OPINON: Glastonbury should not be a safe haven for antisemitism
Jewish comedian and seasoned Glastonbury reveller was at the festival
I’ve been going to Glastonbury for years and I always light my Shabbat candles on the Friday night. For me, it’s always been a celebration of music, dancing, connection and community — a place where strangers become friends and joy is contagious.
That spirit of freedom and love is what draws me back again and again. This year was no different in many ways — I danced, I sang, I laughed with new people around tents and food trucks. I recharged, as always, in the wild beauty of it all.
But this year, something else was in the air too. I wasn’t at the Bob Vylan set. Like many people at Glasto, I often miss entire artists just because of the scale of the place — it’s part of the magic and the madness. So I only heard about what was said on stage — the chant of “Death, death to the IDF” — afterwards, when it hit the news and social media.
I was shocked. Saddened. Furious. Not because I can’t handle political protest — Glastonbury has always been a home for that — but because there’s a line between protest and incitement. Between speaking truth and calling for death. Between being provocative, and just being attention-seeking.
As a proud Jew with deep family roots in Israel, I live with the complexity of that region every day. I believe in peace. I believe in justice for all people. And I believe in the right to protest — even when I disagree. Sometimes I felt a pang seeing the sea of Palestinian flags. But I reminded myself: this is a festival that welcomes voices. That includes mine too.
But when an artist uses that stage to peddle hatred, it stops being activism. It becomes marketing. Rage-based branding. Let’s be honest: if you need to chant about death to get a crowd reaction, maybe it’s time to reconsider the set list.
And when the BBC broadcasts that moment live, uncut, it’s more than just a programming oversight. It’s a quiet endorsement dressed as neutrality. And it leaves Jews — and others — wondering who exactly this space is for.
And still — I had a good Glastonbury. My Jewish friends and I were upset but we didn’t want to give it too much thought – why should we let a talentless wannabe ruin our time? I danced. I met wonderful people. I found joy. And I’ve decided not to retreat, but to respond. In 2027, I hope to bring back the Jewish tent — a space for music, laughter, warmth and culture that was started about ten years ago BBC producer and DJ Tanya Winston. I used to go for Friday night prayers and kiddush – it was a great place to meet up meet new people. Everyone was welcome.
I’d like to see Jewish and Israeli artists take the stage — comedians, DJs, musicians — people with something to say, and the talent to say it without resorting to bloodthirsty slogans.
Because Glastonbury should be many things — but a safe haven for antisemitism should not be one of them.
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