British Jews Report Feeling 'Under Siege' Amid Rising Antisemitic Attacks

British Jews Report Feeling 'Under Siege' Amid Rising Antisemitic Attacks

British Jews are experiencing a profound sense of being 'under siege' and are increasingly anxious about their children displaying religious symbols in public, according to community leaders. This heightened fear follows a surge in antisemitic incidents since the 7 October attacks, including a series of attempted arson attacks targeting Jewish sites across the UK.

Recent Incidents and Community Response

Over the past week, there have been multiple attempted arson attacks at Jewish locations, including two synagogues in London and a building used by the charity Jewish Futures. In a particularly alarming incident, four Jewish community ambulances were set on fire in north London in the early hours of 23 March. These events have forced many in the community to reassess their daily lives and security measures.

Parents are now picking up their children from stations, avoiding drop-offs at nurseries and schools, and selecting universities based on safety rather than academic suitability. Some individuals are refraining from wearing religious or Hebrew symbols, and many are reconsidering attendance at large Jewish gatherings. Rabbi Charley Baginsky, a co-chair of Progressive Judaism, highlighted this shift, stating, "Suddenly you look back and realise how much our lives have changed."

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Baginsky shared that she no longer allows her children to wear clothes with Hebrew lettering in public, whether in central London or while walking the dog. "They wear things around their necks. I am really conscious of it. I haven't told them not to, but do I go and meet my child from the train and walk back with them if they're on their own? Yes. I probably wouldn't have done that a year ago," she explained.

Data on Emigration and Antisemitic Trends

Increased fear within the Jewish community is underscored by new data from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), which shows that 742 people emigrated to Israel from the UK in 2025—the highest annual total in over 40 years. However, the organisation cautioned that this does not constitute an 'exodus'. Dr Jonathan Boyd, JPR's executive director, noted, "Migration to Israel has remained strikingly stable over two decades, and even the elevated figures seen in 2025 fall well within a narrow historical range."

Boyd warned that since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, more British Jews are reassessing their future in the UK. "Not because they are rushing to leave, but because rising antisemitism, recurring shocks and a growing sense of conditional security are reshaping how people think about belonging and long-term viability," he said.

Research by the Community Security Trust (CST), which provides security and support to Jewish communities, indicates a significant rise in antisemitic incidents since the 7 October attacks and Israel's war in Gaza. The CST identified 3,700 incidents in 2025, including the deadly terrorist attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester in October 2025, which resulted in two fatalities and three serious injuries.

Government and Community Reactions

Rabbi Baginsky emphasised that these attacks should not be viewed solely as a Jewish issue. "This is a British problem," she asserted. "Let's start talking about what is happening in society. Places of worship and people of faith are not safe."

Downing Street has condemned the attacks and pledged to implement measures to protect the Jewish community. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Monday, "[The prime minister] stands with the Jewish community, and he's determined to do more to give them the security they deserve, and that is why we're providing record levels of protective security funding as well as decisive steps to counter extremism and root out antisemitism across public life."

Raphi Bloom, a member of the managing board of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, recalled being warned away from Heaton Park synagogue on Yom Kippur. "We feel under siege. We feel that the government has engaged in some very warm words, but the action has been far too slow in coming," he said. Bloom, who wears a Star of David necklace, mentioned removing it during a recent doctor's appointment due to fears of bias.

Dave Rich, director of policy at CST, acknowledged a substantial police response to the arson attacks and long-term government efforts to address antisemitism. "It's taken a while, and I think a lot of people in the Jewish community would probably say it's taken too long to get here, but I think we are now in a situation where these policies to tackle the deeper underlying causes are starting to gather momentum," he remarked.