The recent rise in antisemitism across the UK has reached alarming levels, particularly within university campuses, where incidents have surged dramatically in the wake of geopolitical tensions and violent attacks targeting Jewish communities. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has highlighted the sharp increase, noting a 413% rise in antisemitic incidents in universities in the year following the brutal Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people. This concerning trend was gravely underscored by the recent deadly attack on Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur, an event that left two Jewish worshippers dead and has had a profound impact on the British Jewish community.

Phillipson has emphasised the critical role universities must play not just in safeguarding Jewish students but as community anchors promoting tolerance and inclusivity. She has written to Vice Chancellors across the country, urging them to take decisive action to tackle antisemitism and protect their students. The Office for Students, the regulator for higher education, possesses the authority to fine institutions or cut public funding if they fail to uphold their responsibilities in this area. The Secretary of State has expressed unequivocal support for universities to use these powers vigorously, stating that one instance of antisemitism is one too many.

This call to action comes amid mounting evidence from various organisations tracking antisemitic incidents. The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism in the UK, reports a record high of 325 antisemitic incidents at universities over the past two academic years—a 117% increase. This follows an earlier spike in 2020-21, coinciding with escalating tensions in the Israel-Palestine conflict, when 95 incidents were recorded in a single academic year, including a particularly sharp rise in May 2021. Furthermore, a recent report by the University Jewish Chaplaincy (UJC), surveying 401 Jewish students across more than 100 UK universities, revealed that 89% had experienced antisemitism since the Hamas attacks in October, with half facing such incidents at least monthly. Alarmingly, only a quarter of these students felt adequately supported by their institutions.

In response to the synagogue attack and the broader climate of antisemitism, security at Jewish community sites has been significantly intensified. Rabbi Ben Kurzer and other leaders have publicly conveyed the painful necessity of enhanced protective measures, including barriers like barbed wire and spikes, along with the deployment of private security personnel and CCTV, to safeguard synagogues and Jewish schools.

Government officials have also reinforced their stance against hate and harassment. The Home Secretary recently announced plans to empower police to limit repeated protests that cause cumulative disruption to communities, sending a clear message that antisemitic actions will not be tolerated. Education Secretary Phillipson underscored the importance of education as a vital tool against prejudice, highlighting ongoing investments in training educators at all levels to recognise and confront antisemitism, promote informed debate, and equip students to critically assess misinformation and disinformation.

As the nation grapples with these challenges, there is an urgent call to unite communities and reject hate. Universities, as centres of learning and debate, are being called upon not only to protect Jewish students but also to foster an environment of respect and understanding, ensuring that campuses do not become arenas where hate flourishes unchecked. This multifaceted approach—combining regulation, education, community security, and law enforcement—aims to build a society resilient against antisemitism and all forms of hatred.

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Source: Noah Wire Services