Former United Synagogue Chairman Leaving UK Over Anti-Semitism

Jeremy Jacobs, the former chairman of the United Synagogue, has decided to leave the UK, expressing a profound disillusionment with British society fueled by increasing anti-Semitism.

In a letter, Jacobs shared his decision to relocate to Israel with his wife, detailing his concerns about the escalating anti-Israel sentiments following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. He described instances of harassment he’s faced recently and noted, “Britain is no longer the country it once was.”

“I’ve lost faith in British society,” he mentioned, reflecting a nagging lack of trust that people would look out for him and others; “they certainly aren’t the majority,” he added.

Jacobs has already put his house up for sale, signaling his readiness to embrace a new chapter in Israel. He revealed that his ancestors settled in England in the 1850s, but his wife expressed concern about their children and grandchildren’s future in the UK amid ongoing anti-Semitic tensions.

He recounted a troubling incident where three of his young grandchildren faced harassment at University College London last November during protests against British arms sales to Israel. “They yelled at me because I was wearing a kippah. I had to keep my three granddaughters close, hoping they wouldn’t realize what was happening,” he recalled, visibly disturbed by the memory.

Jacobs hesitated to draw direct parallels to the events of the 1920s and 1930s in Germany, but he remarked on how academia can be a breeding ground for such hatred, raising a red flag about the current environment in Britain. “Any connection to Israel is seen as unacceptable,” he stated.

His announcement follows a series of alarming anti-Semitic incidents in the UK, including a thwarted attack on the Israeli embassy in London. Recently, a stabbing in Golders Green left two Jewish men dead, while a Jewish ambulance was set ablaze earlier this year.

Jacobs also noted that the issue of rising anti-Semitism is a global one, sharing an experience from France where a Jewish woman warned him about the dangers of wearing his kippah. “It’s tragic,” he reflected, acknowledging the concern for safety that resonates across communities.

Despite these challenges, Jacobs highlighted some positive encounters of support from individuals, emphasizing that real progress often comes from grassroots efforts rather than government action. “You never know how much a kind word can mean,” he mused.

He concluded with a sobering observation about the climate in Britain, asserting, “I don’t think non-Jews really grasp how dire this situation is. I take pride in being British, but the UK no longer feels like home to me.”