British Jews concerned about future in Europe

More than half of British Jews (58 percent) question whether they have a future in Britain or Europe, according to a survey conducted by the Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The survey included 2,200 British Jews from different parts of the country, where the Jewish population is 280,000.

“Britain is at a tipping point,” said Gideon Falter, chairman of CAA. “Unless anti-Semitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow, and British Jews will increasingly question their place in this country.”

Fellow campaigner Jonathan Sac­erdoti said rising anti-Semitism in Britain and Europe has made Jews afraid.

Dave Rich, a spokesman for Com­munity Security Trust, which looks after the security of British Jews, said that extra police and volunteer patrols are protecting synagogues.

In mid-January, France had 10,000 troops guarding synagogues, railway stations, airports, and other sites. Nearly half the soldiers—about 4,700—were assigned to protect France’s 717 Jewish schools.

Laura Janner-Klausner, senior rabbi in the Movement for Reform Judaism, disagreed with the survey’s conclusions.

“It doesn’t match day-to-day realities,” she said. “Britain is a fantastic place. . . . It offers all religions and minorities freedom. Britain is one of the best countries in the world for Jews.” —Religion News Service

This article was edited on February 3, 2014.