There was something about this recent production of Broken Glass that I found exceptionally powerful, unlike the performance I had seen 20 years earlier. Could it be that the world in which we Jews find ourselves today is not the same world of 20 years ago?<\/p>\n
Currently, antisemitism is rearing its ugly head at a level unprecedented in recent times.<\/p>\n The United Kingdom, my birthplace, where I lived until we made aliyah in 1998, has seen an upsurge in antisemitism which accelerated following October 7, 2023 \u2013 the day when 1,200 Israelis were barbarically murdered by Hamas. Does this sound illogical? For sure, but logic has no place with those who have decided it is in order to hate Jews even when we are the victims of a massacre.<\/p>\n Recently, the UK has seen the murder of two Jews in Manchester<\/a> \u2013 home to the second-largest number of Jews in Britain; the killings took place on Yom Kippur at the Heaton Park Synagogue. Since then, there have been further attacks on two London-based synagogues<\/a>. Claiming credit for these assaults is the pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya.<\/p>\n One telling aspect of antisemitism within Britain is that symbols of being Jewish are hidden; this includes the fact that no longer can a Jewish day school feature the word \u201cJewish\u201d publicly; no longer can children attending Jewish day schools wear a uniform depicting either a Magen David or a menorah while traveling on public transportation.<\/p>\n How is the UK\u2019s Jewish community coping with the ever-increasing antisemitism? I found out more as a guest at the Annual Dinner in aid of the UK\u2019s Community Security Trust,<\/a> an organization that protects British Jews from terrorism and antisemitism. CST works closely with the police force and receives financial support from the government.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s dinner attracted some 1,200 guests \u2013 the largest number ever \u2013 with a waiting list of many more anxious to attend. Without doubt, the number of participants reflects the deep concern regarding the increase in antisemitic acts<\/a> throughout the country.<\/p>\n The guest speaker was the UK\u2019s home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, whose opening remarks referred to the attack that very morning on four Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green \u2013 an area of London with a predominance of Jewish residents.<\/p>\n Mahmood said, \u201cToday, Jews in this country are being forced to live a smaller life: They are hiding the signs of their faith; they are fearful as they send their children to school… or even when they attend a hospital appointment. And, of course, they attend synagogues that require physical security…\u201d<\/p>\n Mahmood announced that \u00a37 million had been committed to combat antisemitism in schools, colleges, and universities. Jewish students, on campuses throughout the world, are fearful of the anti-Zionist verbiage that no longer hides itself under the banner of hatred of Israel but is openly antisemitic.<\/p>\n What was the impact of Mahmood\u2019s speech on those at this dinner? Many felt that while the words were strong, the action remains weak.<\/p>\n Contributing to the rise of antisemitism in the UK is the consistent anti-Israel bashing that is prevalent on the UK\u2019s BBC and Sky TV.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/718637.jpeg\"\/)
A member of the forensic team works at the scene, after a man was arrested following a stabbing incident in the Golders Green area, which is home to a large Jewish population, in London, Britain, April 29, 2026. (credit: REUTERS\/HANNAH MCKAY)When history feels uncomfortably present<\/strong><\/p>\n