Letter from Jewish survivors of the Holocaust says real threat to UK Jewish life is not Jeremy Corbyn or his party

An open letter signed by twelve Jewish Holocaust survivors has been published in the letters section of today’s Sunday Times. The letter, also sent for publication to the SKWAWKBOX, lays out their view of antisemitism in the UK. It is a very different view from that routinely promoted as near-universal by the media – and is reproduced below unedited:

JEWISH VIEW ON LABOUR PARTY

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is launching an investigation into whether the Labour Party’s handling of anti-semitism within its ranks complies with equalities law. We British Jewish Holocaust survivors do not believe that any prejudice against or hostility towards Jews is being perpetrated by Labour; and if any exists within the party, it is minimal and no more prevalent than in any other political party. Jeremy Corbyn has in fact bent over backwards to help Jewish people. Media attention on the Labour Party in general, and on Corbyn in particular, is being generated by anti-Labour and anti-Corbyn mischief makers, who unfortunately are over-represented within the so-called Anglo-Jewish leadership — a leadership whose legitimacy is not recognised by the mainstream Haredi (strictly Orthodox) Jews. The real current threat to Jewish life in the UK is the anti-religious education policies being relentlessly pursued by Ofsted. To our chagrin, they receive full backing and support from these so-called Anglo-Jewish leadership organisations, together with certain secularist groups, which display no compunction in discriminating against people with religious beliefs. Jacob Ostreicher, Avigdor Langberg, Leah Stern, Minia Meisels, London E5; Mendel Glausiusz, Eli Schreiber, Kurt Winter, Tauba Posen, Roslie Kornbluh, Abraham Just, Hushi Schreiber, London N16; Hyman Bindinger, Tyne and Wear

Jeremy Corbyn has in fact bent over backwards to help Jewish people

The presentation of the views of the UK’s Jewish people as monolithic has been a regular feature of media coverage. It is a presentation that can easily be seen as antisemitic in and of itself – and one which minimises or completely ignores other concerns held by different parts of this country’s Jewish community.

The Sunday Times was apparently also considering an article on the contributors for today’s edition, but does not seem to have proceeded. It’s remarkable enough that a Murdoch publication went as far as publishing the letter.

The SKWAWKBOX needs your support. This blog is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal or here for a monthly donation via GoCardless. Thanks for your solidarity so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.

If you wish to reblog this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so – see here for more.

Like this: Like Loading...