London rabbis have spoken of the ongoing pain experienced by Jews in London amid a rise in antisemitism.
It comes after synagogues across the capital held memorial events for the victims of Hamas’ October 7 terror attack, which killed more than 1,200 people.
The events came amid a surge of antisemitic incidents since last year’s onslaught, with some 2,170 crimes recorded by the Met in the following 11 months.
Rabbi Meir Shindler, from Cockfosters and North Southgate Synagogue, said it had witnessed a rise in verbal abuse since the terror attack, leaving a “certain feeling of discomfort”.
“I can say from my own experience, people shouting out from their car windows or honking their horns,” said Rabbi Shindler.
“We’ve had some incidents of verbal abuse, which is very chilling, and people don’t feel like they have support widely. But our local police have been excellent.”
The increase in anti-Jewish hatred has required synagogues across the capital to boost their security, with guidance that leaders should be ready to barricade in the event of an attack.
“It does significantly restrict our freedoms, we’ve had to boost our security at major events including regular services. It’s just unfortunately what British Jews have to live with,” he said.
As the community recently marked Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, members of the synagogue have been praying: “Please let this year be better than last year,” he said.
The synagogue held an event on Monday evening in memory of those killed.
Among those in the congregation are friends and relatives of Nathanel Young, a British-Israeli who was killed by Hamas terrorists, and Jake Marlowe, who was also killed.
Rabbi Shindler said the service “reflects that personal perspective and their memory” but would also pray in hope for “peace and the return of the hostages”.
Rabbi Nicky Liss, Senior Rabbi of Highgate United Synagogue, warned that central London remains a “no-go” area for members of the Jewish community while pro-Palestinian demonstrations take place.
The rabbi, who personally knew a number of people killed in the October 7 attack, called for more robust policing on marches to make sure they are more pro-Palestinian and less anti-semitic.
He told the Standard: “People have found it very difficult with colleagues, with friends, Our youth have found it horrendous on campus.
“The suffering has been ongoing. Marches in London [don’t] really call for peace.
“The community feel they are hate marches more than Pro-Palestinian marches. There are placards and chants calling for the destruction of Israel. Not calling for peace. Saturday nights in central London have become no-go areas.”
He described how the Jewish community in London are still grieving and that people have been shying away from areas of London “where there are smaller Jewish communities”.
The rabbi continued: “Jewish youth on university campuses have had the most horrendous year. Many I know have had to hide their Jewishness. It is hard to imagine that happening in Britain in 2024.
“People in their workplaces have felt very lonely. That was something I didn’t expect to happen. That is something people have found very painful.”
Rabbi Liss added that the Jewish community in Highgate had heard first-hand the experiences of the October 7 attack having become close to Mandy Damari, the mother of the sole British hostage still held in Gaza, Emily Damari.
The rabbi, who met Ms Damari after officiating at her father’s funeral weeks after her daughter was kidnapped, explained that she had barely survived the attack herself.
“To have eyewitness accounts makes the pain more palpable,” Rabbi Liss added.
”The terrorists who came tried to get into her safe room. Many people in her kibbutz were brutally murdered. She just survived.
“She survived to find out her daughter had been taken hostage.”
He added that the Jewish community was praying for the return of hostages, the safety of soldiers, and peace across the region of the Middle East.
Mill Hill Synagogue was also among those holding memorial events for the victims on Monday night, including a live-streamed speech from the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog.
“The feeling was that so many people wanted to come together so it was important to make sure we provided a space to provide people with the comfort they so desperately seek,” said Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet.
The synagogue, which also has members of its congregation directly affected by the attacks, has recently installed a shall over its bimah - a raised platform where the Torah is read - with all the names of those killed in the attack.
“My message is that since October 7, those that hate us hate us more than we realised. But those that like us like us more than we realised - and they’re the majority,” he said.
“And what we can do is strengthen our own Jewish pride and never be afraid of who we are and what we represent to the world.”
