Antisemitism enters the heart of government
Hanukkah has been celebrated for years within the Polish Sejm as part of the parliament’s tradition of interfaith respect and public recognition of Jewish holidays. However, in December 2023, this ceremony was violently disrupted when far-right MP Grzegorz Braun extinguished the menorah using a fire extinguisher and delivered an antisemitic outburst in the parliamentary corridor. The act—unprecedented in post-1989 Poland—was condemned across the political spectrum as a direct assault on democratic values and religious freedom.
A symbolic act of hatred amid rising extremism in public life
On December 12, 2023, during the Hanukkah celebration held in the Polish Parliament (Sejm), Confederation MP Grzegorz Braun used a powder fire extinguisher to douse the lit menorah, shouting that there was “no place for acts of racist, tribal, wild, Talmudic cult on the grounds of the Polish Sejm.” His statement, echoing classic antisemitic tropes, was met with immediate condemnation from MPs across parties and from the Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia.
The incident occurred during a period of heightened nationalist rhetoric and online hate, with far-right figures increasingly normalizing antisemitic discourse under the guise of defending “Polish identity.” Two days later, a political activist affiliated with Braun’s party, Confederation, posted a bomb threat against the Sejm on social media, intensifying public alarm. Together, these events exposed the growing boldness of extremist voices and the fragility of democratic norms in Poland’s political culture.
“Something like this should never happen. This disgraceful event must be met with a clear and decisive response. There is zero tolerance for deviation, xenophobia, or antisemitism—whether in this building, in the plenary hall, or anywhere else.”
Szymon Hołownia
Speaker of the Sejm
Further Reading / Sources
Polish lawmaker extinguishes Hanukkah menorah, sparking outrage and antisemitism debate
Associated Press