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Jewish community should speak out against Islamophobia, say Limmud speakers
Packed event drew contributions from people concerned about anti-Muslim prejudice in Jewish spaces
December 31, 2025 16:53
Packed event drew contributions from people concerned about anti-Muslim prejudice in Jewish spaces
December 31, 2025 16:53A packed session on countering Islamophobia in Jewish spaces saw members of the community share concerns about anti-Muslim prejudice.
The session, titled “the elephant in the room: the growth of Islamophobia in Jewish spaces,” had standing room only on the final day of Limmud.
It was led by Josh Dubell, education director for pro-dialogue charity Solutions Not Sides, and Noah Katz, co-founder of the Yad Fellowship, an initiative supporting young people to counter antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Both Dubell and Katz acknowledged the problem of antisemitism within parts of the Muslim community, and Dubell noted that he had been “inspired” by members of the Muslim community he had worked with to combat this.
Nonetheless, the pair focused the session on anti-Muslim rhetoric, which they said had become more commonplace in Jewish spaces.
“Islamophobia has passed the dinner table test,” Dubell said. “Generalisations” about the Muslim community are now “commonplace,” he went on.
“It is the same stuff that has been said about Jewish groups over the years,” Dubell added, arguing that similar generalisations about the Jewish community would be challenged.
“Bringing in Tommy Robinson as a bedfellow for our community will stoke that up,” he said.
Dubell said he was troubled by comments about Islam he had heard from younger members of the community while on Israel tours.
He recalled an incident in which young Jews turned their backs on a Palestinian speaker and made remarks including “Islam is a death cult” and “all Muslims want to kill Jews.”
Among older members of the community, Dubell said he had seen “vile Islamophobia” in Jewish social media groups.
“We are living in polarising times, and Limmud is that special place where we can start that conversation [about Islamophobia] and we do so with a level of respect,” he said, before inviting contributions from the audience.
One attendee questioned whether Jewish schools had become “silos that have turned into echo chambers.”
Dubell acknowledged the “value in faith schools,” but suggested that young people should also be encouraged to engage with those who are different from them.
Some audience members asked questions about violence in parts of the Muslim community and elements of the Quran.
Meanwhile, others pointed to violent rhetoric against Islam in Jewish WhatsApp groups and at some pro-Israel protesters.
Dubell concluded by urging those present to challenge Islamophobia in Jewish spaces and take the values promoted at Limmud “into the world.”
“If we are going to take anything from this festival, it is going away and spreading the light and not the hate.”
Concluding on Wednesday, the five-day annual festival drew more than 1,700 participants for sessions on religion, politics, culture, art and science.
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