London rally will call for zero tolerance of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) The rally comes against the backdrop of a worrying rise in European anti-Semitism and the release of a report by the Community Security Trust that monitors attacks on the Jewish community.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, a strong supporter of Israel who has been chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth for nearly one year.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, a strong supporter of Israel who has been chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth for nearly one year.

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) Leaders of Britain’s small but vocal Jewish community will call on the government, police and public to show zero tolerance for anti-Semitism and Islamophobia at a rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on Sunday (Aug. 31).

Key speakers will be Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Laura Janner-Klausner, head rabbi of the Movement for Reform Judaism.


The rally comes against the backdrop of a worrying rise in European anti-Semitism and the release of a report by the Community Security Trust that monitors attacks on the Jewish community.

The report shows incidents of anti-Semitism in the U.K. rising by more than one-third in the first six months of this year.

In a pre-rally statement, South African-born Mirvis said: “Whilst we are fortunate to live in a country where the fight against anti-Semitism is being led by the government, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that there will be zero tolerance of anti-Semitism in our society.”

Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner. Religion News Service photo by Trevor Grundy

Laura Janner-Klausner, head rabbi of the Movement for Reform Judaism. Religion News Service photo by Trevor Grundy

Mirvis is a strong supporter of Israel and has been chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth for nearly one year.

“There is,” he said, “no doubt that the Hamas-Israel conflict has served as a significant trigger point for the current spike in incidents.”


Added Janner-Klausner: “I want to see not only Jews but also Muslims and other British people at the rally. My hope is to broaden the issue. We stand against anti-Semitism but also against Islamophobia and the persecution of all minority groups.”

YS/AMB END GRUNDY

Donate to Support Independent Journalism!

Donate Now!