British Jews adjusting to ‘new reality’ after year-long surge in antisemitism

British Jews are adjusting to a “new reality” of heightened fear and high levels of antisemitism as the war in the Middle East escalates, campaigners have said.

The warning comes as data shows more than 5,500 antisemitic incidents were recorded in the UK in the year between 7 October 2023 and 30 September 2024.

The Community Security Trust (CST) said the figure is three times that of the previous 12-month period, during which 1,830 incidents were recorded.

The majority of the incidents took the form of abusive behaviour (4,583), while others involved threats (401) or assault (302).

When asked if the UK Jewish community was bracing for more incidents after the Iranian missile strikes in Israel, Dave Rich, head of policy at the CST, said there had been no relaxing of precautions since October 2023.

“We’ve seen this pattern before in previous years where Israel is at war and we get these big spikes in antisemitism,” Rich said. “But previously, those conflicts have only lasted a couple of weeks or maybe a month, and then things kind of calm down.

“I think we’ve reached the point where we say this isn’t a temporary blip any more. This is where we are. Antisemitic incidents are running at a higher level than they were a year ago. After a year of it, people have to just adjust to this new reality.”

Danny Stone, the chief executive of the Antisemitism Policy Trust, agreed. “It’s not that we’re bracing, it’s that we’re already hardened because we’ve had a year of increased antisemitism, in every sector, in every industry.

“All of the data indicates that whenever there is an increase in violence in the Middle East. There’s a correlation to or correlating impact on Britain’s Jews. So I think it would be wise to be vigilant at this time.”

The incidents largely took place in London, (3,167), while 729 were recorded in Manchester and 642 in West Yorkshire.

Raphi Bloom, who sits on the managing board of Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and is the co-chair of Northwest friends of Israel, said: “There’s almost a built-in fear now that our reality has changed for ever.”

Shortly after the Hamas attacks in Israel, Bloom said his wife hid her necklace that had her name in Hebrew when going to the gym, while others hid the mezuzah, the Jewish scroll, on their doors.

“People either took them off or painted them black so the houses couldn’t be identifiable as being a Jewish home. People have felt intimidated going into city centres on a Saturday, when there have been anti-Israel marches.

“Since the increase in the war with Lebanon and the Iranian attack, people are nervous about going to synagogue for the high holy days coming up for the Jewish new year because they might be targets. It hasn’t changed.”

Sami Berkoff, president of the Union of Jewish Students, said the organisation was on high alert after Iran’s missile strike in Israel. “We need to prepare Jewish students, we need to send welfare messages,” she said. “Even if nothing happens, there is an immediate fear.”