From the JC:
British Jews are feeling abandoned and excluded following a lack of adequate institutional response to the rise of antisemitism in the country, according to new academic research.
The report, Listening to British Jews, was compiled by Professor Shani Orgad at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and involved 43 Jewish adults across the UK ranging in age from 18 to 75.
The individuals, who represent a range of different Jewish denominations, religious convictions and political persuasions, described a significant decline in trust in major British institutions.
They report feeling “unheard, dismissed or excluded” by institutions such as the police, the education system, universities, the media, and the legal system.
Alongside concerns over institutional responses, participants described an increasing climate of fear and vulnerability.
Many reported heightened anxiety, hypervigilance and taking extra precautions in their daily lives. Some said they had hidden visible signs of their Jewish identity, avoided social situations or withdrawn from professional and public spaces.
Participants also said their grief and distress were frequently minimised or dismissed, while concerns about antisemitism and personal safety were often portrayed as exaggerated or unfounded.
The report said this reflected long-standing antisemitic stereotypes depicting Jews as neurotic or deceitful, making such responses a form of antisemitism in themselves.
Is anyone surprised?
Leave a Reply