Two men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday in an attack that has heightened fears among British Jews. A 45-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder. The incident is the latest in a series of antisemitic attacks that have left many in the Jewish community feeling unsafe.
John Mann, the government's independent adviser on antisemitism, said many are at 'breaking point' and question whether the UK is still a safe place for them. Dave Rich of the Community Security Trust noted that antisemitic incidents have become 'utterly normalised' in daily life, with Jews hiding symbols of their identity or avoiding certain areas.
Recent attacks include arson against Jewish ambulances in March, the firebombing of a synagogue, and a 2022 car-ramming at a Manchester synagogue that killed two men. Jewish people now suffer the highest rate per capita of religious hate crime in England and Wales.
Rich described a Passover dinner where friends shared stories of antisemitic comments, such as being asked 'what they thought of the Jews' or being told 'the Jews did 9/11'. He said such experiences are now a normal part of Jewish life in Britain.
Many British Jews are contemplating leaving the country. As families gather for Shabbat, they will again reflect on whether the UK is safe for them, with growing frustration over insufficient action from police, government, and society.
