Chief Rabbi Calls for ‘National Soul-Searching’ Following Attack

The UK's chief rabbi has declared that numerous individuals in Jewish society and beyond are questioning the cause for rallies including those against the prohibition targeting Palestine Action are permitted to proceed.

Chief Rabbi Sir Mirvis commented: “Some include overt anti-Jewish sentiment, blatant support for Hamas. Not every person, yet exists so much of these actions, that is obviously risky to many in our society.”

Addressing prior to coming to Manchester on Friday to support grieving families the deaths of two men in a terrorist attack near a synagogue, he emphasized an “urgent need for national soul-searching.”

The assault happened following what he called an “unrelenting wave of hatred against Jews” across UK streets, campuses, online platforms and in some sections in the press, Sir Ephraim told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Emphasizing the phrase “spread the intifada worldwide” – considered by many as an incitement for violent acts aimed at Jewish people – he remarked the nation had seen “with tragic clarity” last Thursday the implications of that phrase.

Returning to his characterization as being aired in public spaces and online, he commented: “A great deal of it is deeply offensive and furthermore, when we see the unjustified demonisation of Israel that contributes right into hostility toward Jews within the tone in the UK and that then promotes radical views. The government should take note of that.”

When asked regarding demonstrations staged by pro-Palestinian groups calling for an end to hostilities in Gaza and protests advocating for the removal of restrictions on the outlawed entity the group Palestine Action, he answered that “so much” of it was risky to countless across the UK.

“Ever since 7 October 2023 we have seen countless citizens who have wondered why those protests are authorized to happen on our streets.”

“You cannot separate the rhetoric across the nation, the actions of participants in this way and the outcomes inevitably results … Both elements are closely connected and thus we call on leaders yet again to get a grip on these demonstrations as they are risky.”

Faith leaders also had a specific role to play, the chief rabbi stated further, saying: “We need to talk regarding restraining our words, the opinions that we express, the way we communicate these thoughts and also a faith leader ought to foster harmony and peace in our communities and in our homes.”

His comments coincided with the leader from Israel, Isaac Herzog, declared that the recent day represented a “terrible day” for Jewish people across the UK, the nation as a whole, and the Jewish community worldwide.

“It is a shocking reminder of what we’ve been alerting for a long while, that this wave of hatred toward Jews and anti-Jewish feelings across the globe at the end reaches bloodshed,” he told a national broadcast.

Within the group urging further government action regarding anti-Jewish hatred was former executive Danny Cohen, the past director from BBC One, who stated on a news station there should be a national investigation into antisemitism established straightaway” as “something has turned badly wrong in our society, and it requires immediate attention.”