The UK government has called on British universities to intensify efforts to combat antisemitism in the wake of a deadly attack outside a synagogue in Manchester, underscoring a growing crisis of antisemitic incidents on campuses both in Britain and abroad. On Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, a British man of Syrian descent rammed his car into pedestrians and stabbed several people outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, resulting in the deaths of two men. In response to this tragedy, education minister Bridget Phillipson wrote to university vice-chancellors urging them to take “practical and proportionate steps” to ensure campuses remain safe spaces for Jewish students, emphasising that “the buck stops with universities when it comes to ridding their campuses of hate.” She urged institutions to use all available powers to tackle antisemitism and hate speech.

This call comes amid alarming statistics from the Community Security Trust, a UK organisation providing security to Jewish communities, which recorded over 3,500 antisemitic incidents in Britain last year, marking the second-worst year for antisemitism in recent history. Data from the UK Home Office confirmed that Jews experienced the highest rate of religious hate crimes in England and Wales in the year leading up to March. In the United States, the situation mirrors these concerns, with a surge in antisemitic incidents on college campuses amid tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict. The Trump administration, during its tenure, threatened to withhold federal funding from universities perceived as tolerating antisemitism amid pro-Palestinian protests, although some institutions affected, like the University of California, Los Angeles, criticised the funding cuts as ineffective. Columbia University eventually reached a deal to restore its funding after agreeing to reforms aimed at addressing antisemitism on campus.

In addition to these warnings and policy demands, the UK government announced an injection of £54 million over four years to enhance security for Jewish communities, following a record-breaking year for antisemitic incidents in 2023, largely attributed to the escalation of conflict between Israel and Hamas. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the recent rise in prejudice “shocking and wrong,” with the funding earmarked for improved security measures such as CCTV, alarm systems, and security personnel at Jewish schools, synagogues, and other community buildings.

Universities UK, the representative body for UK higher education institutions, has also responded to the rising concerns. Its Chief Executive, Vivienne Stern MBE, highlighted the need for universities to maintain strong communication with Jewish student groups and to advertise clear mechanisms for reporting incidents of antisemitism. Stern reiterated that while universities must uphold free speech as a core value, they must simultaneously ensure that support for terrorist organisations is denounced and that no community feels unsafe or targeted on campus.

However, some Jewish staff and students report feeling sidelined in the response to antisemitism within universities. At Goldsmiths, University of London, allegations emerged that Jewish staff were being excluded from the university’s inquiry into antisemitism and raised fears that measures introduced following the investigation could curtail freedom of speech and protests. The inquiry, launched in 2023, found the institution culpable for failing to prevent antisemitic incidents and outlined an action plan including mandatory training and restrictions on campus demonstrations.

A recent survey conducted by the University Jewish Chaplaincy found that an overwhelming 89% of Jewish students across over 100 UK universities reported experiencing antisemitism since the Hamas attacks in October 2023. Half of these students said they faced antisemitic incidents at least monthly, yet only 24% felt their universities provided adequate support. The Chaplaincy itself has increasingly taken on frontline mental health support for Jewish students, citing university inaction as a significant challenge.

In response to rising antisemitism in schools, colleges, and universities, the UK government announced a resumption of a £7 million funding procurement aimed at tackling antisemitic abuse through education and prevention programmes. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stressed the importance of equipping young people to identify and challenge misinformation and hate online, noting a 465% increase in antisemitic incidents reported on university campuses in the first five months of 2024 compared to the previous year.

Together, these developments paint a stark picture of the urgency to confront antisemitism within educational environments. The intersecting concerns of safety, free speech, and institutional responsibility highlight the complex challenge universities face in fostering inclusive, secure communities while maintaining open dialogue. The government’s heightened focus, increased funding, and calls for practical action signal renewed pressure on institutions to deliver meaningful change to protect Jewish students and staff from hate and harassment.

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Source: Noah Wire Services