The Chair of Kenton Synagogue says many in the Jewish community are “apprehensive and worried” and wonder if children will come home safely
Some Jewish families in London are considering leaving the UK because of a rising tide of anti-Semitic abuse and violence.
In the city’s north west, vibrant communities of Jews have grown over more than a century, giving neighbourhoods a distinctive cultural feel and even acting as a place for Jewish tourists to find familiarity and kosher food when visiting London.
But a recent uptick in attacks on people, buildings and vehicles linked to the Jewish faith is leading some to consider their future in London.
Ruth Topper, Chair of Kenton United Synagogue, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I’ve got grand-kids that go to Jewish schools and you just want to know they come home every day and they’re safe. I worry more about that now.
“I have always been happy in the UK, never had a problem, but now I’m thinking ‘is it right for my family to stay here?’. Lots and lots of families are saying the same thing.”
On April 19, a bottle containing a type of accelerant was thrown through the window of the synagogue on Shaftesbury Avenue, Kenton, causing minor smoke damage to the building.
Thankfully no injuries were reported and the fire did not properly ignite but the incident was just one of many that has taken place in and around London in recent months.
Ruth said: “We had an increased number of people coming [to the synagogue] straight after the incident because people are worried. It’s an elderly congregation so they wouldn’t be able to get out of the way very quickly.
“They are apprehensive and worried but they do feel it’s important that they do come to the synagogue even though they are worried. Some people are happy to walk around with either Kippot or wearing a Star of David but at the same time you do start getting worried. It shouldn’t be like this, this isn’t the Britain I grew up in.
Ruth first moved to Kenton 47 years ago but said that, whilst anti-Semitism is “always there under the surface”, it has become “more overt of late”. She said Pro-Palestinian marches that have taken place across the country have emboldened some people to be openly anti-Semitic.
The marches have been a regular fixture in London following Israel’s military response to the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2022, meaning additional security at synagogues and Jewish schools has been necessary.
Ruth said: “I’ve lived here for 47 years and we’ve always had security guards. […] It is sad and it shouldn’t have to happen but now it’s even more noticeable. We have external security guards which we have had basically since October 7 and now we have two rather than one. It’s ridiculous.”
In order to address concerns the Jewish community has about their safety, London Assembly Member for Harrow and Brent, Krupesh Hirani, has been pushing for the Government to provide additional funds for police to support Jewish and other minority communities in North West London.
Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, confirmed that MOPAC (the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime) has supported the Metropolitan Police’s bid for £33million of funding over three years to support the policing response. This would go towards primarily funding dedicated police protection for Jewish communities in North West London.
The Met announced a new 100-officer Community Protection Team following a series of anti-Semitic attacks, including the attempted arson on Kenton United Synagogue. However, many of the officers providing this enhanced protection are being abstracted from existing neighbourhood policing teams.
Mr Hirani and Assembly Member for Camden, Anne Clarke, are calling on the Government to approve this sustainable funding so officers protecting Jewish communities are additional officers, rather than being diverted from local policing teams.
Mr Hirani said: “I’m pleased the Mayor of London, the Deputy Mayor and MOPAC are actively seeking long-term funding to protect communities in North West London. The Government must urgently approve this funding so emerging threats can be tackled whilst also maintaining a strong neighbourhood policing presence in Barnet, Brent and Harrow.”
Following the incident in Kenton, Ruth said the police “were fantastic” and regularly came to the synagogue to help alleviate concerns and make people feel safer – particularly on the Sabbath, or Shabbat, when much of the community attend for service. However, she emphasised that more needs to be done to “tackle the root cause” of rising anti-Semitism.
Ruth added: “More police presence definitely helps, no question of that, and the Government has been giving us grants to help improve the security of the building and that’s great. But I think it’s [about] getting down to the root cause and that’s what worries me.”
She feels more needs to be done in terms of education in order to address the issue longer-term. Ruth said: “Jewish people are normal; we don’t have horns on our head. [We need] an education to teach everybody, whatever their religion, that it’s fine to have a different belief. You don’t target someone because they have a different religion.
“Politicians pay a lot of lip service to what should be done but don’t actually do anything about it. […] Something should be done about the marches.”
In incidents linked to the synagogue arson attempt, bins were set alight outside a communal block in Barnet while a Jewish business was also targeted in Barnet. In Golders Green, attacks on a series of Hatzola ambulances, operated by the Jewish community, on March 23 have since seen five people charged.
Following the attack on Kenton United Synagogue, Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner, Matt Jukes, said: “For Jewish communities, this feeling of concern is sadly not new; and we appreciate and recognise the continued impact on them as they try to live peacefully and without fear.
“London is better than this. We should all be standing with our neighbours, and we need vigilance from every community in support of those who are being targeted. It means all communities speaking out against this anti-Semitism and intimidation, as well as people providing information to police that will help us tackle crime and deter terrorism.”
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