Why British Jews Are Afraid 

BBC programme examines rising intimidation and violence that has left many feeling fearful and under threat

Following a spate of attacks on Jewish premises in north London, a BBC Panorama documentary being screened tonight will feature over a dozen individuals speaking of fears for their safety.

The recent destruction of four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity has been followed by further arson attempts on two synagogues and a business amid record numbers of antisemitic incidents including last year’s Manchester synagogue attack that left two men dead.

A timeline of recent incidents

March 23:
Four Jewish community ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a volunteer-led ambulance service, were torched in Golders Green, north-west London. Four males have been charged over the incident and will appear at the Old Bailey this Friday, April 24.

Wed April 15:
An attempted arson attack was carried out in the early hours at Finchley Reform Synagogue, in north-west London. Bottles, one thought to contain petrol, were placed near the synagogue by two people wearing dark clothing and balaclavas, but neither of the bottles were ignited.

Sat April 18:
Items were found near the Israeli embassy, central London, in the morning, and that night a former Jewish charity building was attacked in Hendon, Barnet. The attackers fled after the bag they were carrying containing bottles of liquid failed to fully ignite.

This latest series of incidents is further evidence of a growing trend in almost daily antisemitic incidents being inflicted on Jews and Jewish buildings across Britain. 

Sun April 19
A “bottle with some sort of accelerant” was thrown through the window of Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow, north London. Smoke was seen inside a room at the synagogue after officers spotted damage to the window.

The police are investigating whether the string of arson attacks is the work of Iranian proxies.

This latest series of incidents is further evidence of a growing trend in almost daily antisemitic incidents being inflicted on Jews and Jewish buildings across Britain. Our News and Views page contains continual updates of the most shocking and utterly unacceptable expressions of anti-Jew hatred.

British Jews Talk of Leaving

Now, even the BBC is taking such hateful incidents seriously. Reporter Judith Moritz examines how intimidation and violence has left many British Jews feeling fearful and under threat.

Amanda, a 47-year-old community leader, says that simply going about her daily life has brought her abuse. She has been spat at in the street, branded a ‘baby killer’ and received a death threat, just for being Jewish.

There aren't any Jewish people I know who haven’t got plans to leave ...

In a WhatsApp group of about 20 of her Jewish friends, many of whom are children or grandchildren of refugees from the Nazis who once saw the UK as a haven from antisemitism, she says conversations have shifted from neighbourhood chat to more existential questions.

“There aren't any Jewish people I know who haven’t got plans to leave,” she says, adding that many of her group are considering emigrating within the next few months, mainly to Israel.

And they are not alone. According to Israeli government migration statistics, more British Jews have moved to Israel in the past twelve months than in any other year since the turn of this century.