Jewish community calls for action on antisemitism

Jewish community leaders in West Yorkshire have called for more action to tackle antisemitism after two men were stabbed in London in what police have declared a terrorist incident.

Rabbi Albert Sebastian Chait, from the United Hebrew Congregation (UHC) in Leeds, said antisemitism was a "national emergency" and Jewish people were feeling "very vulnerable".

He said: "Every Jewish person feels like a target is on their back today. This wasn't a building, this wasn't a synagogue. This was a person going about their day, a British Jewish person."

West Yorkshire Police said it recognised the concern and distress the attacks had caused and said more police would be on patrol to offer reassurance.

Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, were attacked in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday.

A 45-year-old British national, who came to the UK from Somalia as a child, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Since the attack the government has announced an extra £25m in funding for increased police patrols and security in Jewish communities.

The funding will also be used to put further protections in place around synagogues, schools and community centres.

Rabbi Chait said: "Of course, it's welcomed and we do want to feel safe as soon and as quickly as possible.

"But unfortunately, I'm not sure that that money deals with the root cause of antisemitism.

"You know, putting higher fences and putting more cameras and facial recognition or more boots on the ground or more patrols or more security - I'm certain, in fact, doesn't deal with the root cause.

"It simply plasters over the symptoms that the Jewish community are feeling right now."

Leo Brosh from the Jewish Leadership Council said: "Things are not good, the community is worried and questioning its future.

"This needs to be the last straw. I don't want to be sitting having a conversation like this where I have to talk yet again about Jewish people who are fearing for their safety, because there are people out there who think it's acceptable to go out with a knife and stab them when they're just going about their daily business.

"This has to be the last time. This has to be the end.

"Enough is enough. Action needs to happen. We need to see change."

Rabbi Chait added the level of security in place at Jewish schools and synagogues was already high, and included security cameras, police and community patrols.

"A Jewish person who's not from the community and they want to come to our synagogue this Saturday for Jewish service, they would have to submit a passport 24 to 48 hours in advance," he said.

"But this is not okay and maybe it's an opportunity for everybody, the Jewish community, the wider community, for people to take a step back and say, this is not British values, this is not British society, this is not okay.

"Because an attack on the Jewish community is an attack on everyone."

Richard Stroud, trustee of The Bradford Synagogue, said there was a "great fear" within the Jewish community in West Yorkshire.

Speaking about the attacks in London, he said: "When you consider these are British citizens who have been in this country for a long time, and just because they happen to be Jewish, they have been stabbed going to their place of worship.

"It is so un-British."

Stroud, who said he had been contacted by faith leaders in the city to offer support, added: "The government have allowed this infestation of antisemitism to grow in this country.

"There have bee lots of platitudes - but actually dealing with the problem, they are not dealing with it"

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that provides advice and security for Jewish communities and monitors antisemitism in the UK, says it is receiving record numbers of reports of antisemitism.

Last year, it received 3,700 reports of incidents of malicious acts aimed at Jewish people or organisations, it says, more than 10 a day - making the annual total second only to 2023, when there were almost 4,300.

Assistant Ch Con Damien Miller, West Yorkshire Police's lead for local policing, said: "We have well-established links with the local Jewish community and continue to work with representatives and partners, such as the Community Security Trust, to provide reassurance and support."

He urged anyone who had any information about any suspicious activity to contact them.

Leeds City Council said it "stands against hatred and violence in all its forms".

A spokesperson said: "We understand this incident will be deeply concerning for our Jewish communities.

"We have been reassured by senior police colleagues in Leeds that increased patrols are being put in place at key sites across the city, including synagogues and Jewish schools.

"Acts that target or intimidate any community, whether through hate, hostility or violence, have no place in society."

At a Downing Street press conference on Thursday, Sir Keir Starmer promised the government would introduce various measures to tackle antisemitism.

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