'The current situation in Israel means we need to be with our communities': Conference of European Rabbis postpones annual convention

Meeting of CER, one of Europe’s most prominent associations of Orthodox rabbis, was to have taken place in Azerbaijan on 12th November

Israel’s conflict with Hamas has meant that the Conference of European Rabbis says it has been “forced” to postpone its conference, due to take place in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, on November 12.

The CER’s secretary-general, Rabbi Aharon Baskin, has written to rabbis and potential guests that “with due regard to the alarming situation in Eretz HaKodesh [the Holy Land], it is with the utmost regret that we inform you that, despite the immense effort and capital which have been invested into organising the 33rd CER Convention, we are forced to postpone it until 2024”.

Rabbi Baskin said that the organisers “understand the gravity of the situation for all the attendees and deeply apologise for any inconvenience and damage caused”.

The CER now plans to hold the conference in the spring. It is understood that even before the Hamas attacks there were logistical concerns about holding the convention in Baku in November — because many rabbis were committed to life cycle events in their own communities — and the cost of flights to Azerbaijan.

A statement from the organisers to Jewish News said: “It is with enormous regret that we have taken the decision to postpone our planned convention due to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan later this month. The current situation in Israel demands that rabbis must be with their communities whilst we mourn the horrific losses and hope and pray for a swift end to the conflict and the safe return of all hostages. We are planning to reschedule the convention to the spring.”