We will defeat antisemitic hate with Jewish joy

There I conveyed the distress of our community at what happened, and our demand that more be done urgently to stop the wave of hatred we have experienced over the last two years. I made clear we need a fundamental change of mindset in addressing antisemitism. And I presented the government with a multi-layered agenda of what must now be done.

I requested additional resources to address our physical security. I stressed the need to tackle anti-Jewish hate speech with clarity and determination. This includes curbing hate-filled protests, and prosecuting hate speech whether on social media, in universities, in mosques, or on the stages of music festivals. I spoke of the importance of solidarity, including visits from national and local politicians to our communities, and statements of support from other parts of society including leaders of other faiths. I reiterated the need to tackle marginalisation of Jews in public life and the workplace, by implementing the recommendations of the Commission on Antisemitism we published in July. I called for boosting education and training about antisemitism and Jewish life in schools and universities.

And I called for action to drive extremism out of all corners of society. Our team has been delivering the same message to political leaders across the spectrum in recent days.

And we have seen progress. The Home Secretary has agreed with our longstanding request – and one I repeated again on Friday – to introduce new laws to address the cumulative impact of frequent protests on our communities.

We also welcome the messages and visits of solidarity from political leaders and faith leaders, including important statements from British Muslim leaders. We now need to see those words turned into concrete action to address the festering prejudice against us.

There is so much more to do, and there are no quick fixes. There has been antisemitism in Britain for most of the time that there have been Jews here.

But whilst it would be understandable to feel isolated and despondent, we do not face these challenges alone. We have allies across the political spectrum, and in many parts of our society. They understand that the hatred directed at our community, wrapped in narrow and distorted accounts of the past, and ignorance of our identity and historical experience, is symptom of a much wider malaise. They understand that the fight against antisemitism is part of the bigger fight for tolerance and decency – indeed the fight for liberal democracy itself.

Indeed, those who attack us want to see us cowed, isolated, and suspicious of our neighbours of other faiths. This is not the spirit of the Jews of north Manchester. After my Shabbat there, I am convinced that the best tribute to the heroic victims is to reaffirm our values as a proud and open-hearted community.

And just as we must be so incredibly grateful to the many members of our community who participate in ensuring our physical security, by volunteering for CST, or simply offering a security shift for our shuls and schools, so too I call on all of us to share proudly our identity, history and culture with our neighbours.

Last month the Board of Deputies launched a Jewish heritage plaque scheme to draw attention to the historical contribution of Jews to Britain. We have a Civic Shabbat programme designed to encourage communities to invite local civic leaders into the synagogue. And in the month of Sivan (May-June 2026) we will launch the very first Jewish Culture Month, to celebrate our rich Jewish life and our contribution to the British cultural mosaic.

In sum, we will defend ourself from those who attack us with courage and strength, just as Heaton Park’s heroic members did when they used their bodies to stop the attacker at the synagogue door. And we will defeat them with hope and joy, celebrating our faith and culture and sharing it with our neighbours.

There is no better time than Succot, a festival in which hospitality and guests are central themes, to invite our friends and neighbours in.

With a glimmer of hope for a ceasefire in the Middle East that will bring home the hostages home and end the devastating war, let us say chazak v’ematz – be strong and of good courage, and let this be a Shana Yoter Tova – a better year for us all.