Simon Schama warns UK Jews face ‘loss of basic civil rights’ as antisemitism normalised
London “no-go zones” and rising abuse leave Jewish children hiding identity, leading historian says
Britain’s Jewish community is experiencing a “fearful loss… of basic civil rights,” a leading historian has warned, describing parts of central London as “no-go” areas for visibly Jewish people amid rising antisemitism.
In an interview with The Times of Israel, Simon Schama said Jewish children in the UK are now growing up in the most difficult environment since the end of the Second World War, with some feeling unable to wear school uniforms or religious symbols openly.
“It’s really painful that little kids… have to hide their uniforms,” he said. “The sense of a fearful loss not just of self-esteem, but basic civil rights.”
He pointed to areas of the West End where wearing a kippa or Star of David can lead to abuse, warning that such hostility has become increasingly normalised.
“The really worrying thing is… how these extreme, murderous, grotesque things have become absolutely… part of Generation Z’s repartee,” he added.
His comments come amid heightened concern within the UK Jewish community, including the recent arson attack on Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green and other antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish institutions.
Reflecting on his own upbringing in postwar Britain, Schama said Jewish life once felt secure and integrated. “My father thought, after the Holocaust, there was nothing to fear in Britain,” he recalled.
While rejecting comparisons with 1930s Europe, he criticised what he described as a gap between political rhetoric and action.
“We stand alongside, maybe 100 yards off,” he said, referring to repeated pledges by politicians to support the Jewish community.
He also expressed frustration at responses to controversial anti-Israel displays, arguing authorities often fail to recognise when rhetoric crosses into antisemitism.
At the same time, he highlighted “moments of fantastic hope,” including King Charles III’s decision to become patron of the Community Security Trust, which protects Jewish communities across the UK.
“It was an incredible thing… exactly what was needed,” he said, describing the King as “a very good friend of the Jews.”
He was also sharply critical of both the far left and far right, condemning what he described as pressure on Jews in progressive spaces to denounce Israel as a condition of acceptance.
“The obligation is that you undergo a kind of formal denunciation… of Israel’s right to exist,” he said. “This is absolutely appalling.”
Reflecting on reactions to the 7 October attacks in Israel, Schama said he was “horrified” by attempts in some academic circles to describe the violence as legitimate resistance.
“It was shocking and wicked to euphemise this sadistic slaughter,” he said.
While acknowledging the current climate is “painful,” he added that Jewish history should not be viewed solely through tragedy, stressing the importance of retaining “moments of beauty and hope.”
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