Our mission on behalf of British Jews in 2026

After a series of very difficult years for our community, 2025 saw our worst fears realised.

The Islamist terrorist attack at Heaton Park Synagogue on Yom Kippur – the deadliest act against our British Jewish community since Medieval times – was the culmination of two years of antisemitic incitement that began alongside the Hamas atrocities of 7 October 2023 in Israel.

As we start 2026, we are focused on three key areas:

1) The fight for the soul of our nation:

Antisemitism, and the extremism that attends it, have often been described as “the canary in the coalmine”, emblematic of a nation’s health as a whole. And the last few years have manifested a country that is very sick indeed.

Jews in Britain today face prejudice from three main sources: Islamist extremists, the far right, and the far left. But none of these direct their venom exclusively at us. Islamists want to subvert our country’s traditions of democracy and inclusion for their supremacist expression of their faith. The far right billow out hatred for all minority groups. The far left’s puritanical and narrow views on history and the economy almost always lead them to side with the UK’s enemies. All of them are ultimately prepared to use violence to achieve their ends. None of them must be allowed to succeed.

This means demanding of our government a new settlement on protests, to balance the right to free speech with a civic responsibility towards our neighbours. It means tougher action against individuals, groups and hostile states who seek to drive us apart. It means implementing the recommendations of the Mann-Mordaunt Commission on Antisemitism across civil society. And it means a new investment in education and interfaith relations to tackle prejudice at its root.

The fact that these threats are not just to Jewish security, but to national security, means we must enlist society as a whole to defend not just us, but itself as well. We need to collectively marginalise and defeat extremists, and strengthen the majority in all our communities who are committed to a unified and cohesive future.

2) The pursuit of peace and security, at home, in Israel, and abroad:

If there was one particular bright light in 2025, it was the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas and the return of almost all the hostages to Israel. We must not forget or forsake the final hostage, Ran Gvili, whose remains are still in Gaza. Nor must we accept a situation in which Israelis are still able to be terrorised by Hamas from Gaza, Hezbollah from Lebanon, the Houthis from Yemen. Nor can the Iranian regime be allowed to continue its nuclear programme and oppress the Iranian people.

And we must set our sights higher than a pause in fighting. Lasting peace and security between Israelis, Palestinians and the wider Middle East may often seem like a dream. But on any day it beats the nightmare of war. On our best days we see what could be. The Abraham Accords have shown a vision of a brighter future for all in the region. We should do what we can to support their expansion, working with governments, embassies, and civil society.

In forging a pathway to peace, we will proceed with a clear-sighted realism that understands the dangers and complexities of the Middle East. In this country, with our friends and neighbours of different faiths and beliefs, we must look to avoid importing conflict, and seek to import peace instead. Understanding, empathy, and the pursuit of ‘win-win’ outcomes should replace a myopic tribalism, the principle results of which have been ‘lose-lose’ for all.

That need not be limited to the Middle East. Through the Board of Deputies’ Optimistic Alliance, we will continue to work with Muslim partners to tackle prejudice and extremism, champion shared religious freedoms and promote better education and understanding amongst us.

Further afield, whether in Ukraine, in Sudan, in Nigeria, or in China, we must put our shoulder to the wheel to end war and persecution, and pursue a safe and dignified future for all.

3) The need for less ‘oy’, and more joy:

In these exceptionally difficult last few years, Jewish identity has often felt very heavy. It has been defined by antisemitism and war. But now we need to write a new script. As well as confronting our challenges with strength, intelligence, and determination, we need to remember that there is more than pain that makes up our community. There is a faith, heritage, and culture that give us so much reason for pride. Whether artists or philanthropists, medics or musicians, cooks or comedians, our community has contributed, and continues to contribute, so much to our country. Later this year, we will have our first-ever British Jewish Culture Month, from 16 May to 14 June, to celebrate. We hope to see you at one of the many events taking place across the country.

Let us hope that 2026 will be a year of less ‘oy’ and more joy for us all!