Chief Rabbi Demands National Reflection After Attack
The United Kingdom's chief rabbi has stated that countless people in Jewish society and further afield are questioning why protests including those opposing the prohibition against Palestine Action are permitted to continue.
Chief Rabbi Sir Mirvis commented: “Some contain clear hatred of Jews, blatant support of Hamas. Not every participant, but exists an abundance of these actions, which is clearly hazardous to many across the nation.”
Talking ahead of his arrival to Manchester on Friday to stand with the bereaved the loss of two individuals during a terror incident at a synagogue, he stressed an “urgent need for national introspection.”
The attack took place after what he described as an “unrelenting wave of hostility toward the Jewish community” on the nation's roads, colleges, digital networks and in certain parts in the press, the chief rabbi told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Emphasizing the chant “globalise the intifada” – considered by many as an incitement to violence aimed at Jewish people – he said the nation had experienced “with tragic clarity” on Thursday what those words meant.
Referring again to what he described as being aired on public grounds and on the internet, he commented: “So much of the material is so hateful and additionally, when there is the unjustified demonisation of Israel that feeds right into anti-Jewish feelings across the climate of Britain which then fosters extremist behavior. National leaders needs to be mindful of this.”
Upon questioning about marches organized by pro-Palestinian groups urging a cessation to the war in the Gaza Strip and rallies advocating for the revocation of restrictions on the outlawed entity the group Palestine Action, he answered that “so much” of such activities are dangerous for numerous within the nation.
“Since the 7th of October last year there are countless citizens who have wondered the reason these demonstrations are permitted to occur across our cities.”
“It is impossible to disconnect the words across the nation, the actions of participants in this way and what inevitably results … The two are directly linked and so we appeal to national authorities once more to assert authority on these demonstrations because they are risky.”
Spiritual guides also possess a particular duty to undertake, the senior rabbi remarked, adding: “We must speak regarding restraining our words, the views we share, the manner we convey these thoughts and likewise a faith leader should promote harmony and peace on our streets and within households.”
His remarks coincided with the leader from Israel, President Herzog, declared that the recent day proved to be “awful day” for the Jewish community in Britain, the wider UK, and the Jewish community throughout the world.
“It is a stark warning about what we have been cautioning on for quite some time, that this surge of anti-Jewish sentiment and animosity toward Jewish people all over the world at the end results in bloodshed,” he told a radio station.
Among those urging additional state measures on antisemitism were former executive Danny Cohen, the past director at the BBC channel, who told Times Radio it is necessary to have a national investigation on antisemitism set up immediately” as “an issue has gone deeply troubled in our society, and it demands urgently addressing.”