Antisemitism 'a problem for all of us to fix', religious leaders say in letter

Antisemitism is "a problem for all of us to fix", religious leaders from across the country have said in an open letter published in support of the UK's Jewish community.

The letter, also signed by leading figures from business, sport and media, called for support for British Jews and described recent violence as a "nightmare from another time".

There have been a string of attacks at synagogues and other Jewish sites in recent months, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, a fortnight ago.

Signatories include faith leaders from Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities, with the letter stating "this country belongs to you as much as any of us".

The open letter, organised by the Together Coalition, said: "The spectre of Jewish people being stabbed at random in the street, killed defending their synagogues and Jewish infrastructure being firebombed feel like a nightmare from another time."

It added: "This is not a problem for Jewish people to have to respond to. This is a problem for all of us to fix.

"This country belongs to you as much as any of us. You are as British as all of us who call this country home. And we will do everything we can to protect you and your community from the extremists who threaten you."

Responding to the letter, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called it a "powerful riposte to the hateful extremists who have targeted the Jewish community".

"My hope is that where these institutions have led, others will follow, in workplaces, boardrooms, classrooms and on social media, so that we can finally begin to tackle this scourge together," he added.

Two Jewish people were killed in October last year and three left in a serious condition after a car ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester. One of the men was killed by a bullet fired by police.

Earlier this year in March, four Jewish charity-owned Hatzola ambulances were set on fire in the car park of a synagogue in Golders Green.

In recent weeks the Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London was attacked and days later a bottle containing an accelerant was thrown through the window of Kenton United Synagogue.

Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, were attacked in Golders Green two weeks ago, after which a man was charged with attempted murder. The same man is also charged with attempted murder for an attack on a Somali man in South London prior to the Golders Green incident.