We British Jews need to challenge our instinct to turn inward

Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, is marked by dawn-to-sunset fasting to encourage self-discipline, gratitude, compassion, and charitable giving. Like Jewish fast days, the evening meal is central — joyful, communal, and meaningful. With the Muslim population in the UK approaching four million, most of us will encounter Ramadan through mosque gatherings, public events, festive lights, and media coverage.

This year, Ramadan arrives amid heightened anxiety between communities. Since the shocking events of 7 October 2023 and its repercussions on our British streets, tensions feel sharper. Polarisation in Britain is not new, but it feels louder, closer, and harder to ignore.

Within the Jewish community, I have felt, and seen, a growing instinct to turn inward. I feel it myself.  Rising antisemitism has led many of us to strengthen internal networks and lean on one another. While understandable, I worry about what we lose when fear narrows the circle of who we trust and meet.

At the same time, and particularly since 7 October, Muslim communities have faced a significant rise in hostility and hate crime, particularly from the far Right. Extremist ideologies, including Islamist extremism, threaten Muslims as well as wider society, targeting those engaging with British institutions, government or people labelled negatively, as “Zionists”  ie Jews. Social media amplifies fear and division, making dialogue harder and weakening trust between communities.

I serve on the Independent Commission on Communities and Cohesion (ICCC), which brings together voices from across the political spectrum, faith groups, business, academia, and the arts. Chaired by Sir Sajid Javid and Jon Cruddas and supported by the Together Coalition, our goal is to strengthen cohesion at a time when divisions feel deep and fragile. Community cohesion is central to a healthy democracy, but it can no longer be taken for granted.

As the Prime Minister noted powerfully in his recent keynote speech, we need a renewed understanding of what binds us: fairness, tolerance, decency, and respect for difference. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reminded our commissioners that Britain remains one of the most integrated nations in the world. Still, with political extremes growing and trust weakening, we are at a crossroads.

Debates about whether “multiculturalism has failed” are often driven by anti-immigration rhetoric. The reality is that Britain is diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-faith, and plural and will get more so,  and our challenge is to continue to thrive together in places where we live, work, learn, exercise and even play, whilst respecting difference. As Sunder Katwala of British Futures noted, integration often goes unnoticed when it works; only failures draw attention.

Our Jewish community is rightly proud of our integration. We are a long-established immigrant community that has largely (though not perfectly) balanced Jewish identity with British belonging. Specific interfaith initiatives like Nisa-Nashim (the Jewish Muslim women’s Network) spearhead the most challenging connections whilst our Jewish Film Festival, upcoming Jewish Culture Month, and Mitzvah Day not only celebrate Jewish culture and values, but invite others to connect through them.

Extremism exists in many forms across communities; addressing it requires fair policing, strong policy, and collective resolve — alongside inclusion, opportunity, and dialogue. It requires us to resist collective blame and to work towards shared British goals.

Which brings me back to Ramadan. For Muslims, it is a season of reflection, generosity, hospitality, and community. Its spirit resonates with Jewish traditions — lighting the darkness like Chanukah, the emotional weight of fasting like Yom Kippur, and the emphasis on neighbourliness that feels deeply British.

If we allow Ramadan to remind us of shared values; kindness, self-restraint, hospitality, and empathy – this month can become more than a religious observance. It can be an opportunity for all of us to rebuild trust, strengthen relationships, and reaffirm a sense of shared belonging. That is the Britain I want to live in and one I still believe we can build together.