Last summer I attended a Momentum meeting in South London for a debate entitled ‘Addressing anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism on the left.’ During the floor speeches, a woman stood up and voiced her concern about the likelihood of “the Rothschild Banking state” taking over. A second person stood up and spoke about how Jewish media elites were preventing any other form of racism from getting into the mainstream press. Then someone said that Tony Blair’s media team were run by Mossad agents. It was a long evening.

Yesterday Theresa May released a statement about the Government’s intention to adopt a new official definition of anti-Semitism drafted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The definition, which emphasises the use of “collective condemnations of Jews or Jewish institutions and communities” is attempting to make it abundantly clear what anti-Semitism looks like when played out in the present day.

For me, it represented recognition of the increasing complexity needed to address racism and prejudice that minorities continue to face.

The left in 2016 has not been great for Jews. As a member of the Labour Party, there were a number of times this year where I felt that I had to pick between being left-wing and being Jewish, or being female and being Jewish. The adoption of this new definition of anti-Semitism will create opportunities to address and challenge the kinds of tropes about Jews that seem to have become a pernicious part of public discourse over the last year.

Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback LONDON, UK - JULY 16 : A speaker addresses the EDL members at Hyde Park. About a hundred members of The English Defence League (EDL) march on Park Lane for a rally in Hyde Park. The march on 16 July 2016 was heavily policed keeping the group away from the public. (Photo by David Mbiyu/Corbis via Getty Images) Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a ‘love bombing’ rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback The Peoples Assembly Against Austerity, Black Live Matters and The Socialist Workers Party organised a march on Saturday July 16th in London, United Kingdom, against austerity, cuts and Racism. The groups also marched in solidarity against Tory government policies. (Photo by Gail Orenstein/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell

But it is also the wider, global political context that emphasises the importance of the adoption of this definition. As our political landscape shifts increasingly rightward, it is fundamental that we do not lose sight of the real and tangible threat of a continual legitimisation of white supremacist ideas – ones which threaten the multicultural and tolerant values that exist in Britain.

As someone who spends my time balancing my Jewishness with an engagement with wider British society, I am conscious of how lucky I am that to live in a country where generally my identity is not up for debate. I walk around London wearing a Star of David and feel safe in the knowledge that for the most part it will go unnoticed.

Speaking to my friends this week, I found it comforting to hear that on the whole, they felt similarly. But underlying in these conversations was the tone of almost pleasant surprise at not experiencing hate crimes. And this is where the tension ultimately lies. Because even though we are not having to deal with the Jobbicks or the Bannons of the world, the threat of what could happen in a society where there seems to be a growing tacit acceptance of racism as “worries about immigration” or “hitting back at political correctness gone mad” is still deeply worrying.

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It is not coincidental that public Jewish figures like MP Luciana Berger face so much online vitriol, many of which is driven from neo-Nazi forums. The problem with hate crimes is that they are meant to cut through your identity; to ensure that, no matter how integrated you may feel in your country, you’ll never quite belong.