OPINION: It’s time for Jews to stop being polite – and start getting tough

Many of us ended our Yom Kippur fasts to the terrible news of the terrorist attack on the synagogue in Manchester. At the very moment we were wishing each other a good new year, we learnt that a terrorist had struck — killing two innocent Jews and injuring others.

As always, there was an outpouring of horror and sympathy, including from political leaders. Communities rallied around the families. Jews don’t like being intimidated by cowardly acts of hate, and many will probably turn out in record numbers for services this Shabbat and for Sukkot. We are a proud people, and we will not hide.

But something else stood out: the repeated phrase “not surprising”. Many have warned that the constant vilification of Israel — and the constant spillover of that hostility toward Jews in the diaspora — would lead to worse attacks. When public conversation gets radicalised and lies are repeated unchecked, we should not be shocked that extremists feel vindicated. And yet, even in the aftermath of the attack, there were pro-Palestinian protests, as if the ends justify any means when it comes to Jews.

This tragedy will reopen the old debate: is there a future for Jews in parts of Europe? That’s not the argument I want to have here. My focus is on something more proactive.

I believe strong diasporas in major Western countries are important. Jews have always shown resilience in less-than-friendly environments. But there’s no denying that what’s happening now comes from shifts we’ve been reluctant to confront fully — an ideological turn on parts of the left combined with demographic changes across Europe. Even much of the reporting on this attack was hesitant to describe the attacker honestly. (His first name, if reports are true, literally means “holy war”.)

Just writing that sentence will get me vilified in some circles, even inside the Jewish community. But we can’t keep living in castles built on the past. We have to face the present.

For years, our main response has been engagement — dialogue, outreach, and community-building. That approach had merit. Governments have supported Jewish communities for decades, allowing us to thrive, and as responsible citizens it was logical to continue to nurture those relationships.

But clearly, it’s no longer enough to keep us safe. We have to be more comfortable with a more confrontational approach.

This is not a call for violence. That’s not who we are.
It is a call to be louder, clearer, and legally and politically tougher.

• Thanking governments for extra police at our synagogues is treating the wound, not curing the disease. Leaders should be ashamed that we need so much protection.
• We need to use the law proactively — enforce existing protections, litigate when hate crosses the line, and push to fix laws that fail us.
• We must call out political leaders and institutions when they stay silent or enable hate.
• Stop inviting politicians to Jewish events just so they can appear supportive while doing nothing.
• Be willing to build coalitions—even with groups we didn’t historically align with—if they’re truly committed to combating antisemitism.

For too long we’ve generally avoided confrontation because we wanted to be engaged and be constructive. That worked, until it didn’t. We should not abandon it, but it needs to be supplemented.

As I write this from Israel, some will say, “If only Israel just agreed to a ceasefire and a path to Palestinian statehood, all this would stop.” Maybe it would help; maybe it wouldn’t. But survival can’t be built on a single assumption that might prove wrong. Israel is fighting its own existential battles, even as it seeks new peace openings. As this week’s attack showed, that alone isn’t enough to keep diaspora Jews safe.

For generations, we thrived by keeping our heads down, contributing, and living exemplary lives. That approach no longer guarantees safety.

If we want a future as Jews in the diaspora, we must have the courage to act more decisively: to ensure laws are enforced, be more public, hold leaders accountable, and form new alliances — even when it feels awkward or unfamiliar.

Safety and dignity will not come from polite gratitude for extra security guards. It will come from getting loud, being clear, and yes — sometimes making people, including us, uncomfortable.

If we want to live safe and healthy Jewish lives outside Israel, we’re going to have to get uncomfortable. It may be the only way forward.

• Edward Misrahi is a businessman, philanthropist and former chair of BICOM (Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre)