A community asking how Britain allowed things to get this bad
Thousands marched against antisemitism in London as anger, despair and defiance spilled onto Whitehall
Things felt different on the Tube. As opposed to a sleepy Sunday crowd, riding the Edgware branch of the Northern Line via Charing Cross resembled being in shul on one of the High Holy Days. People recognising one another. Saying hello to friends. I was waiting for someone to lay out a kiddish table.
There was a true, uplifting sense of community, despite the reason we were all heading towards central London.
Walking towards the rally against antisemitism initially felt almost celebratory too, even with the layers of security. (Away from a football stadium, I’ve never seen so many police officers.)
Sadly, though, one of the first things I came across as I walked down Whitehall was a man with a placard reading: “The fact that people are conflating Jews and Zionists means more people are being antisemitic.”
Get it? We’re the problem. Obviously.
It’s an increasingly common line from the left, and no doubt this particular gentleman thought he was being clever. I’m concerned for the village that spent Sunday without its idiot.
As I got towards the stage, music was playing and people were waving flags – Israeli, British and Iranian, mostly, although I spotted an Irish one too.
Then things got serious. Suddenly, I had a moment of despair. Of realisation. How had it come to this? In the UK, in 2026, how were Jews still having to protest hatred against us, having been the target of murder, arson and stabbings?
As well as religious leaders, not least the chief rabbi, speakers from across the political spectrum addressed the crowd.
They got a mixed reception.
Kemi Badenoch was cheered like a rockstar. She seems to be the only senior politician that truly “gets it”. During a rousing address, the Tory leader recalled being in Nigeria when 300 schoolgirls were stolen by Islamist extremists, barely any returning.
Reform’s Richard Tice was well received, too.
Pat McFadden, meanwhile, was booed and heckled so heavily I thought he was going to leave the stage. “I hear your anger,” he said, with little success.
Kemi Badenoch was cheered like a rockstar. She seems to be the only senior politician that truly “gets it”
It was hard to feel too sorry for him. The anger from the Jewish community towards the government because of its inaction, and indeed exacerbation, of antisemitism, is palpable and justified.
Such outbursts are not something our community is known for, but the last few weeks, indeed the last few years, have pushed people over the edge.
Sir Ed Davey, on straight after the work and pensions secretary, got a frosty reception initially. Worse, I heard people laugh at him when he was being introduced. However, I was impressed at how the Lib Dem leader went on to win over the crowd, particularly when he called for a banning of the IRGC.
The obvious absentee here is a Green representative. They might be the only political party in the UK led a by a Jew, but after the behaviour of some of the candidates, and comments from Zak Polanksi about antisemitism and the Golders Green attack, it is clear that neither he nor any of his colleagues would have been welcome. Diversity and debate are at the heart of Judaism, but we all have out limits.
However, walking back up Whitehall with God Save The King and Hatikvah being sung, I felt a little bit of hope
One nervy moment came when I had a group of stewards and CST officers go barging passed me. I feared the worst. It emerged that some pro-Palestinian protestors had got in and needed removing.
Will the collection of people on grey May afternoon make any difference thought? After the last few years, it’s hard to believe so. That’s not because Sir Keir Starmer or any other mainstream politician don’t recognise there is a problem. It’s more that it’s all too little, too late. Things have gone so far they do not know what to do about it. We will likely see yet another Jew-baiting hate march next weekend. And, after the recent spate of attacks, who knows what else the coming days will bring?
However, walking back up Whitehall with God Save The King and Hatikvah being sung, I felt a little bit of hope. British Jews matter in this country and still care about this country. We’re not going to be bullied away.
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