Chief Rabbi Declares British Jews Will Not Be Intimidated Following Arson Attack
Britain's Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has delivered a powerful message of defiance, stating that the Jewish community will not be "cowed" or "intimidated" following an overnight arson attack in London. Speaking at the scene in Golders Green, Sir Ephraim emphasized that while the incident has left people "shocked and saddened," the community remains resolute in standing tall as proud British citizens.
Attack Targets Jewish Community Ambulance Service
The arson attack occurred during the early hours of Monday morning in Golders Green, north-west London, targeting four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, the Jewish community ambulance service. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported from the incident, which has been described by the Chief Rabbi as a "terrorist attack."
This latest incident comes amid what many describe as a deepening sense of vulnerability within Britain's Jewish population. Official Home Office figures reveal that Jewish people face the highest rate of religious hate crimes compared to any other faith group in England and Wales. In the year to March 2025, there were 106 religious hate crimes per 10,000 population targeting Jewish individuals.
Rising Antisemitic Incidents Across the UK
Separate data from the Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism in the UK, shows that 2025 recorded the second-highest annual total ever for anti-Jewish hate incidents, reaching 3,700 cases. This represents a 4% increase from the 3,556 incidents documented in 2024.
The CST noted that the annual record high remains at 4,298 antisemitic incidents reported in 2023 – the year of the October 7 attack, which prompted a significant spike in recorded cases of anti-Jewish hate across the UK. Notably, 2025 marked the first time more than 200 cases of anti-Jewish hate were recorded in every calendar month.
Historical Context and Recent Tragedies
The report highlighted that dozens of antisemitic incidents were reported following the deadly Manchester synagogue attack in October last year, with some individuals actually celebrating what had occurred. Worshippers Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were killed when 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, a Syrian-born British citizen, drove into the gates of the Heaton Park synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, before attacking with a knife while wearing a fake suicide belt.
This tragic event marked the first fatal antisemitic terror attack in the UK since the CST began recording incidents in 1984, underscoring the severity of the current climate.
Community Resilience and Security Concerns
Sir Ephraim, who visited the scene in Golders Green on Monday, expressed deep concern about the security measures now necessary for Jewish institutions. He told the Press Association that it is "highly lamentable" that synagogues, schools, and other Jewish facilities "can now only function behind walls, behind gates."
The Chief Rabbi acknowledged the community's gratitude for the "significant amount of security which is being provided to us by our Government in the same way as previous governments have provided, together with police forces," while adding: "You can never have too much security – the more we get, the better."
Striking a defiant tone, Sir Ephraim declared: "While the community is feeling so shocked today and so saddened, nothing's going to terrorise or intimidate us to stop functioning in genuine strength." He described the response to this latest incident as "one of strength, of fortitude, of resilience," emphasizing that "nothing's going to stop us from standing tall as Jews and behaving in a way, according to our tradition, as proud British citizens."
Investigation and Community Response
Counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the arson attack, which is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime by the Metropolitan Police, though it has not been officially classed as terrorism at this stage.
Echoing the Chief Rabbi's sentiments, CST chief executive Mark Gardner noted there is "a lot more resolve than you might expect from British Jews all across the country." He told PA: "Maybe it's because of everything that they've been through for the last two-and-a-half years (since the October 2023 Hamas attack). British Jews are determined to lead the life of their choice. But, at the same time, a lot of people are taking precautions in public, and nobody should blame them for doing so."
Gardner highlighted concerning everyday realities for some British Jews, including people feeling the need to be careful about what name they use when booking a taxi, and others expressing concern about being treated in hospitals if staff realize they are Jewish. He stated: "These are the kind of things where the concern about the levels of general antisemitism impacts the dignity of British Jews."
Broader Concerns and Community Impact
Earlier this month, several arrests were made of individuals suspected of spying for Iran on locations and individuals linked to the British Jewish community. Gardner noted that while this had "caused great concern to the Jewish community, police and Government, the reaction from the media and from political activist groups was at best muted."
He added: "Compare that to the reaction that would have followed if Israeli agents had been arrested on similar charges relating to British Muslims. The contrast is profound and deeply worrying."
Damon Hoff, president of Machzike Hadath synagogue where the ambulances were parked, acknowledged that the community was "feeling vulnerable and feeling frightened, but we're not going to let that get us down." Meanwhile, Dov Forman, a campaigner against antisemitism and great-grandson of Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert who died in 2024, warned that the Jewish community "can't just keep besieging ourselves."
The local resident revealed he knows young Jewish people who are leaving the country because they do not feel safe, adding: "This will only add to that."
