(Jewish Group) Antisemitism endangers us all. We can't afford to be complacent

[Behind the Aegis]

(THIS IS THE JEWISH GROUP! RESPECT!!)

On Saturday – exactly a week after the horrific attack in Pittsburgh – I had the privilege of attending a Shabbat service at a synagogue in London to show solidarity with the Jewish community, both here and around the world. We prayed for all those affected – the families, the friends and the wider Jewish community. This evening, I’m also proud to be speaking at the annual dinner of the Board of Deputies of British Jews – a great organisation that does an incredible job standing up for the Jewish community in our country.

Understandably, many Jewish Londoners – and Jewish communities around the world – are not only mourning the victims of the dreadful attack in Pittsburgh, but worried about what this means for their own safety. A synagogue should always be a sanctuary, a place where you feel safe to worship and practise your faith in peace.

The wicked terrorist attack targeted innocent Jewish Americans, but it felt like an attack on us all – on our way of life and on the freedoms we hold dear. The fight against antisemitism is not only about protecting the Jewish community; it’s a fight on behalf of everyone. For antisemitism is a threat to our values, to the cohesiveness of our communities and to our whole society.

Sadly, the rise in antisemitism and the far right can’t be treated simply as a passing trend. The Community Security Trust has reported that antisemitic incidents across the UK are at a record high, with the number of cases recorded in London alone rising by nearly 200% since 2011.

We know from our history that we ignore these incidents at our peril, and where antisemitism, left to fester, can lead. And we know from our history that an increase in antisemitism and rightwing extremism usually comes with a rise in other forms of hate crime and division – coinciding with a backdrop of economic hardship, nationalist populism and political uncertainty.

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Ladies and Gentlemen, the Mayor of London!