Barbara Lerner Spectre (born ca. 1942) is a Jewess who in 2010 made controversial statements during an interview.

Background

Spectre is a Zionist and head of Paideia - The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden, an organisation funded by the Swedish government and the Wallenberg Foundation to promote Jewish ideology. Through an organisation called One Sweden, which she heads, she promotes multiculturalism.

Although born in the United States, Spectre moved to Israel in 1967 where she worked at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, though she decided to move to Sweden in 1999. Spectre is married to rabbi Philip Spectre, who was the official rabbi at the Great Synagogue of Stockholm and the Chief Rabbi in Sweden during the early 2000s.[1]

IBA interview

An interview with Israeli IBA-News in 2010 has gained wide attention.[2] The interview was widely dispersed through YouTube and other social-media. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority have removed several of these videos from YouTube.

Europe has not yet learned how to be multicultural. And I think we are going to be part of the throes of that transformation, which must take place. Europe is not going to be the monolithic societies [sic] that they once were in the last century. Jews are going to be at the center of that. It’s a huge transformation for Europe to make. They are now going into a multicultural mode, and Jews will be resented because of our leading role. But without that leading role, and without that transformation, Europe will not survive —30px, 30px

Other statements

Spectre is a supporter of Israel and has stated that

We need a Jewish community in Europe. Israel needs a Jewish community in Europe. Israel cannot exist, both economically and politically, without Europe. They are necessary advocates for Jewish issues. —30px, 30px