13 February 2026
Building Resilience Against Hate: CER Leads Critical Dialogue at MSC2026
Friday, February 13, 2026, Munich |
At the Munich Security Conference, the Conference of European Rabbis, in partnership with the Abraham Accords Institute and Karlspreis Foundation, hosted a vital dialogue on strengthening resilience against destructive ideologies, antisemitism, and foreign influence.
Our distinguished panel brought together three perspectives united by a common vision:
The Power of Narrative and Values
H.E. Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chair of the UAE Federal National Council’s Committee on Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs, identified destructive ideologies as today’s primary threat. He presented the UAE’s comprehensive strategy: fostering trust through dialogue, embedding positive values in society, and enforcing laws that prohibit hate speech. His central message: changing today’s narrative isn’t idealism—it’s practical statecraft that shapes tomorrow’s reality.
Democracy Requires Active Citizens
Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis and the 2024 Charlemagne Prize Laureate, reminded the audience that the European Union was founded to secure peace. Yet institutions alone cannot deliver on this promise. Europe’s stability depends on citizens actively combating disinformation and division. Democracy is participatory, not passive.
The Cost of Complacency
Maria Kolesnikova, a Belarusian human rights activist and 2022 Charlemagne Prize Laureate, warned against taking peace for granted. Freedom and security were hard-won and remain fragile. Cultural engagement, she argued, builds the human connections that protect democratic values—but only if citizens refuse apathy and choose action.
A Unified Message
All three speakers converged on a central truth: resilience against hatred and authoritarianism requires more than institutions and laws. It demands engaged citizens, deliberate value-building, and the courage to defend what matters.
