Security alone will not defeat antisemitism

Some announcements deserve both gratitude and soul-searching. The British Government’s recent decision to commit £250 million to protecting Britain’s Jewish communities is one of them.

We are grateful that ministers recognise the very real security challenges facing Jewish schools, synagogues and communal institutions. At a time when antisemitism remains at historically high levels, this investment is both necessary and welcome.

But we should not confuse necessity with normality.

The fact that, in 2026, Jewish children attend schools protected by security guards, families worship behind reinforced security, and community events require extensive protective measures simply to take place should concern every one of us, not only Britain’s Jewish community.

The Community Security Trust recorded 3,700 antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2025, the second-highest annual total since it began recording them in 1984. Those figures are a stark reminder that antisemitism remains a serious and persistent challenge in British society, and that far too many people still remain silent in the face of it.

But security alone cannot be our answer.

It protects Jewish communities from today’s threats, but it does not create a society with fewer threats tomorrow. Security can safeguard those inside our schools, synagogues and community centres, but it cannot change the attitudes beyond their walls. If we are serious about tackling antisemitism, we cannot focus only on protecting its targets. We must also address the prejudice that gives rise to it.

That is why education is so essential.

Successive governments have rightly spoken out against antisemitism and provided meaningful financial support to help protect Jewish communities. Those commitments matter, and this latest investment is another important demonstration of that support. But our commitment cannot end at security. We must invest with the same determination in education, dialogue and the long-term work of building understanding across society.

Education from the earliest age must teach young people to respect people of different faiths, backgrounds and opinions, while developing an understanding of our shared values and our shared history. If we fail to confront the causes, lies and libels that underpin antisemitism and racism, we will never eliminate their consequences.

Holocaust education has a unique role to play because it shows where hatred, dehumanisation and indifference can lead when they are left unchallenged. We cannot simply learn about the past, walk around it and assume tomorrow will somehow be different. The lessons of history only matter if they shape the choices we make today.

As Founder & Chairman of March of the Living UK, part of the International March of the Living, an educational programme that brings together thousands of Jewish and non-Jewish teens, young adults and adults from around the world to Auschwitz-Birkenau each year to learn about Jewish life before the Holocaust, visit the ghettos and death camps, and witness where hatred can lead, I have seen first-hand the impact that meaningful Holocaust education can have.

When Holocaust survivors, religious leaders, public figures, community leaders and students march together, they create opportunities for dialogue, understanding and shared remembrance. They leave recognising that remembrance is not passive. It carries with it a responsibility to challenge antisemitism, racism and hatred wherever they encounter it.

In doing so, this shared experience reminds participants that preserving Jewish life means far more than building higher walls. It requires that future generations have the confidence to embrace who they are, while respecting the identities and experiences of others.

So while we must continue to confront antisemitism wherever it appears, we must also celebrate who we are with confidence, unity and pride. Jewish life should never be reduced to discussions about security and victimhood. It is a story of resilience, contribution, creativity, culture, faith and community.

That is why government support for Jewish life must extend beyond security.

Too often, Jewish life enters the national conversation only when Jews are under threat. We speak about protecting Jewish communities, but far less about celebrating them. Jewish life should never again be hidden behind protective walls. It should be visible, vibrant and embraced as an integral part of British society.

Instead of seeing Jewish events cancelled or scaled back because of security concerns, Britain should actively champion Jewish culture, education and communal life. Jewish festivals, schools, educational initiatives and community programmes should be encouraged, supported and celebrated. The role of the state should not end with protecting Jewish communities from hate. It should also include creating the conditions in which Jewish life can flourish openly and proudly.

The strongest answer to antisemitism is not simply ensuring that Jews are safe enough to survive. It is ensuring they are confident enough to thrive.

The true measure of success will not be the size of the security budget protecting Britain’s Jews. It will be the day when Jewish children can walk into their schools, families can gather in their synagogues, and communities can celebrate their identity openly, proudly and without fear.

That is the Britain we should all be working to build.

Scott Saunders is CEO of International March of the Living, and Founder & Chairman of March of the Living UK