Dorset Jewish community feeling isolated says Bournemouth Rabbi
Jewish people across Dorset are facing "sustained levels of antisemitism" in workplaces, education and communities
A Bournemouth Rabbi has told us Jewish teenagers are being subjected to anti-Semitic hate in schools and colleges across Dorset.
A charity that monitors antisemitism in the UK found nationally there were "sustained levels of antisemitism" throughout 2024 due to the conflict in Gaza and pro-Palestine marches.
The number of incidents recorded by The Community Security Trust (CST) in 2024 dropped 18% compared to the previous year but was still the second highest annual total recorded.
Rabbi Maurice Michaels of Bournemouth Reform Synagogue told us: “Abuse comes in different forms. Of course, there's physical abuse, but there's emotional abuse as well which can be just as harmful if not even more so.
“Unfortunately, I think that there are many Jewish people who feel they have been pushed into a corner and have no way out of it.”
The incidents recorded in 2024 included 201 assaults, 2,892 cases of abusive behaviour and 157 instances of damage or desecration of Jewish property.
There were a further 240 online anti-Semitic incidents last year, 260 school-related cases and 145 linked to students and universities.
Rabbi Michaels said: “Universities have been particularly difficult for Jewish students. It's affected their education in a way that it shouldn't do because education is supposed to be about being open minded whereas what we've seen is just such closed mindedness.”
He believes the extreme levels of antisemitism has caused Jews to feel “more isolated” and “silenced” in places of work, in education and in communities across the county.
“Antisemitism is latent, but it's there and it only needs something to trigger it off before it becomes much more overt.
“A lot of the protest marches came right past synagogues on Saturdays when the congregation was coming out of the service, and that is a provocation.”
CST chief executive Mark Gardner said: “British Jews are facing more hatred and pressure than it has for many decades.
"We welcome the defiance and pride that our community has shown, despite everything it has been through.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Antisemitism has no place in this country - not now and not ever. This report shows that anti-Semitic incidents in Britain remain unacceptably high.”
She said the Home Office has committed to providing the Jewish Community Protective Grant, that is administered by the CST, with £18 million per year.