Head of new UK Jewish group posted homophobic messages and derided Reform Judaism

The chief executive of a new communal organisation – set up to rival the Board of Deputies – expressed sympathy for violent far-right activist and convicted fraudster Tommy Robinson in a series of social media posts.

James Marlow was confirmed head of the newly-launched National Jewish Assembly on Monday.

The organisation, which claims to represent “the opinions of ordinary Jews” has been set up with ex-Board senior vice president Gary Mond, who quit the communal body ahead of an investigation into allegations of Islamophobia.

Social media posts sent to Jewish News indicate Marlow used his @James_J_Marlow account to back English Defence League founder Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxely-Lennon, on at least three separate occasions.

In March 2016, Marlow tagged the @TRobinsonNewEra account (now offline) as he appeared to support violent activity by someone associated with the former member of the antisemitic British National Party.

Marlow tweeted Robinson writing:”Great right hander by your aid – watched it 3 times.”

The comment was made just days after newspaper reports and social media video footage emerged of Robinson in a violent confrontation with migrants in Italy.

In another post, Marlow again appeared to side with Robinson after he appeared on LBC radio presenter James O’Brien’s show.

He tweeted @TRobinsonNewEra, again in March 2016, stating:”Great call b/c (because) not intimidated by liberal presenter.”

In July 2017, as he discussed open access to pray at the Western Wall in Israel, Marlow said:”I recall story from @TRobinsonNewEra that he could enter Temple Mount but did not want to pay Muslim waft 4 having tattoos on his arm.”

In March 2018, Robinson was permanently banned from Twitter for violating rules governing “hateful conduct.”

Jewish News can also reveal that Marlow, who appears on the GB News television channel as a commentator, is also the author of series of openly homophobic social media posts – comparing gay people to paedophiles, and claimed sexuality is a “choice”.

In a post from June 2015, Marlow shared an article from the American fake news site TruthUncensored:”Pedophiles (sic) using same tactic as gay activists arguing desire 4 children is sexual orientation no different than homos.”

In February 2017, he tweeted: “Can’t believe I finally agree with Jeremy Corbyn with his words ‘people choose to be gay’ and choice is a wonderful thing!”

His support for Corbyn’s comments, came the former Labour leader who was widely condemned when he said nobody should be persecuted because they “choose” to be gay.

Meanwhile, during the 2016 London mayoral election contest Marlow turned his wrath on the UKIP candidate writing “acts too gay to b mayor. Should have gone through heavy media training.”

This was a reference to the openly gay UKIP candidate Peter Whittle.

In further concerning tweets, Marlow also appeared to express sympathy with those singling out George Soros, the Hungarian-born Jewish philanthropist, for criticism.

Marlow expressed support for a commentator who appeared on Fox News to suggest Soros “is supposed to be Jewish but you wouldn’t know it from the damage he inflicted on Israel and the fact that he turned on fellow Jews”.

Marlow tweeted in December 2018: “As a practising Jew within a strong well known community I do NOT find this at all antisemitic and indeed actually agree with all his words on this point.”

He also claimed his view of Soros was shared by “most of our Jewish observant colleagues outside of Israel and inside.”

In a November 2019 Marlow then leapt to the defence of Nigel Farage and “anyone from Brexit Party” denying the existence of antisemitism within their ranks.

He then added: “And critiquing Soros doesn’t count because that means when I criticise the mayor of London for a poor job, by your definition I would be anti Moslem (sic) which is daft.”

We can reveal Marlow has also used social media to post open sectarian style attacks on those practising Reform Judaism.

In one tweet from July 2015, he suggested “a Reform conversion is not Jewish anyhow!”

In a March 2021 post he wrote about an unknown individual: “He wants to join a reform synagogue, but not for ‘religious’ reasons. That’s like wanting to join weight watchers, but not for losing weight??”

In February 2017 he tweeted that Reform “rejects all traditional law & customs”.

Marlow also wrote in June 2017: “Western Wall NOT just open 2Orthodox. Just respect its sanctity. Reform believe it’s ‘occupied’ in any case.”

In a press release on Monday, Marlow announced: “Together with former senior vice president of the Board of Deputies, Gary Mond, we launched the National Jewish Assembly (“NJA”), today with three clear principles. To promote Jewish life, to support Israel and to fight antisemitism.

“We will not be involved with any other political issues which are not directly relevant to Jewish people exclusively. It is intended to voice the opinions of ordinary Jews who have never been, and do not attempt to be, part of the current system of Jewish organisational infrastructure.”

Westminster Synagogue member Mond is bankrolling the project, which asks individuals to pay £30 and contribute to determining its policy at regular assemblies.

Former Zionist Federation chief Steve Winston will serve as the NJA’s vice-chairman,and its events manager will be former Zionist Federation employee Dalia Hajioff.

The NJA has so far received enthusiastic backing from Israel activist Jonathan Hoffman, who added: “Hopefully it will be immune to the leftists who have destroyed ZF.”

Another supporter is Peter Baum, who was suspended as a deputy over “unacceptable” tweets including describing Palestinians as “Nazis” and “child abusers”. Baum said the NJA “will certainly represent my views on community and political issues.”

Asked to explain his posts in support for anti-Islam activist Robinson, Marlow said:” I am on record of saying (during many talks and TV news appearances) that he is toxic, untouchable and creates division.

“I have personal experience of being physically attacked by some of his supporters, when covering the London Al Quds day march as a journalist. One year members of the far-right turned up and as I filmed some of them when they shouted abuse, I was set upon, in front of police.

“Therefore to associate myself with Tommy Robinson is a desperate attempt to discredit me and the work I have done and continue to do in building community relations.”

Commenting on his homophobic posts he added: “I do believe that people are free to choose what they wish to do and how they wish to dress.

“I have never said anything to the contrary of these words. Another tweet on this subject of more than seven years ago is clearly in an online debate, about a subject which made mainstream news at the time and was being discussed on multiple talk phone-in radio shows.

“One thing I have learnt over the many years since I set these tweets, is when attempting to make a point in an extremely limited number of characters, it is sometimes not possible to do.”

Asked to explain his attacks on Reform Judaism, Marlow said:”On my tweet about the Western Wall in June 2017, I was responding to either the head of Women of the Wall or their spokesperson who spoke to Kan Radio in Israel.

“She said very clearly and in explosive language, that the ‘Western Wall was occupied by the ultra-orthodox’ and that it ‘must be open to all Jews’.

“My response was that it was open to all Jews and non-Jews (and rightly so) and that it was offensive to say it was occupied by the religious.

“Elsewhere there was a debate about a reform conversation, as opposed to reform Jews, which is what I think you were implying.

“I replied that the reform conversion was not halachically accepted.

“I think you will find that the reform clergy also tell their converts that they would most likely not be accepted at a United, Federation or Adass Yisrael congregation.”

Addressing his comments on George Soros, he added: “I have NOT seen any social media posts of mine in which I defend criticism of George Soros against charges of antisemitism.

“However it is my firm position that just because someone disagrees with the views of a Jewish person, that does NOT make them antisemitic.

“We in the Jewish community must be very carefully when using the term ‘antisemitism’ for political or debate purposes, just to score political points. We should all be able to disagree with each other in a respectful and frank discussion.”

Jewish News also approached Mond for comment.