Thread by @NudderingNudnik

Short thread:

The Labour leadership campaign of 2015 took an unexpected turn by giving prominence to an obscure hard Left backbencher with a long record of unsavory associations and views including a consistently hostile attitude to Jews, Jewish self determination and Israel.

After an already worrying rise in antisemitic attitudes expressed in Britain in 2014 associated with reactions to events in Gaza, since 2015 British Jews have been placed under ever increasing pressure. The escalation has been rapid and has reached crisis levels.

Whilst the last 3 years have taken an incalculable toll on Britain’s tiny Jewish communities, affecting every aspect of our lives - personal, political, democratic, psychological and much else - I think there has been 1 particular positive effect that I’d like to note & celebrate

Jews have always suffered periodic pressure, threat and attack throughout our history. How they responded to these crises has no doubt been complex and there will be many examples in Jewish history of both noble and ignoble responses.

But I believe that in the history of the Jews, the response by British Jews and particularly our organized communal bodies to this sustained period of marginalisation, abuse and attack, will be regarded by future generations as an exemplar of proud, strong Jewish conduct.

I believe that the @BoardofDeputies @JLC_uk @CST_UK @antisemitism @chiefrabbi collectively and individually deserve huge credit and the gratitude of all British Jews.
Each of these has conducted themselves with dignity, resolve, measure and gravitas throughout.

Not one of these organizations or individuals could turn to a handy briefing note that set out what to do when Britain’s Jews suddenly found themselves in the headlines day in day out for 3 long years.
There is no manual for Jewish leadership other than our history.

It’s easy for individuals like myself to act as the “bad cop” lone wolf attack dogs or to be part of loose groupings of activists.
We carry little burden of responsibility and almost no accountability.
Yet still the toll on us is significant.

So imagine the huge burden of responsibility on those who lead Britain’s Jewish communities.
To stay steadfast yet be flexible.
To be vocal yet measured and proportionate.
To be strong but not aggressive.
To win allies but not compromise.
To stay calm yet warn of the dangers.

The story of the Jews tells us that this will not be the last time that the Jews of the diaspora or the Jews of Israel will come under existential threat.
I am proud and grateful to be able to say that I’m confident that future Jewish communities under threat will look to us.

The Jews of Britain in the period 2015 to whenever this resolves itself one way or another will serve to demonstrate to future generations of Jews how to behave under intolerable pressure.

How this current episode ends for British Jews is hard to predict.
But we should all take great pride in ourselves, show our gratitude to those who put themselves on the line to lead our communities and continue to hold our heads up high.

Ends.