UK's Top Rabbi Demands National Reckoning In Wake of Terrorist Act

The UK's leading rabbi has stated that many individuals in Jewish society and outside it are questioning why protests like the ones against the prohibition against Palestine Action are authorized to proceed.

Sir Ephraim Mirvis commented: “A portion include overt anti-Jewish sentiment, blatant support toward Hamas. Not every person, yet we see so much of these actions, that is obviously risky to countless in our society.”

Speaking prior to traveling into Manchester this Friday to stand with those mourning the killings of two men in a violent assault near a synagogue, he highlighted an “urgent need for national introspection.”

The attack happened after what he termed an “unrelenting wave of hatred against Jews” throughout UK streets, campuses, online platforms as well as in various segments in the press, Mirvis told the BBC's Today show.

Highlighting the slogan “internationalize the uprising” – that numerous regard as a call for violent acts against Jews – he said the UK had seen “with tragic clarity” this past Thursday what those words meant.

Coming back to what he described as being aired on public grounds and online, he commented: “So much of the material is deeply offensive and additionally, when present the baseless vilification toward Israel that leads right into hostility toward Jews within the tone of Britain which then encourages extremism. The government should take note of such risks.”

When asked regarding demonstrations arranged by advocates for Palestine demanding an end to the conflict within Gaza and rallies calling for the removal of the ban on the prohibited organization Palestine Action, he responded that “a large part” of such activities are risky for numerous within the nation.

“Since 7 October 2023 there are numerous individuals who have wondered the reason these demonstrations are allowed to take place on our streets.”

“One cannot divide the words on our streets, the actions of individuals in this way and what necessarily occur … The two are closely connected and so we call on national authorities again to get a grip regarding these rallies as they are hazardous.”

Faith leaders also possess a specific role to fulfill, the senior rabbi remarked, noting: “It is vital to discuss concerning managing our speech, the opinions we share, how we express those views and additionally a faith leader should promote harmony and peace in our communities and within households.”

His remarks were made as the leader from Israel, Isaac Herzog, commented that the recent day represented a “horrific day” for Jewish people across the UK, Britain at large, and the Jewish community throughout the world.

“This is a stark warning regarding what we’ve been alerting for an extended period, that this wave of hatred toward Jews and anti-Jewish feelings across the globe at the end leads to violence,” he told a radio station.

Included among calling for additional state measures toward combating antisemitism were former executive Danny Cohen, the past director at the BBC channel, who commented to a radio program there should be a countrywide review on antisemitism set up immediately” as “a problem has become badly wrong in our society, and it requires prompt action.”

Kelsey Short
Kelsey Short

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