'My Jewish friends avoid Leeds at weekends for fear of abuse'

A woman who campaigns against antisemitism in Leeds said some of her Jewish friends avoid the city at weekends for fear of being targeted by religious abuse.

Debbie, who is from the city, said: "Several families are leaving Britain because they don't feel safe here any more, they don't feel supported."

She is part of the group Leeds Leads Against Antisemitism (LLAA), which said there had been an increase in verbal attacks and threats against the Jewish population since the start of the Israel Gaza conflict on 7 October 2023.

A second woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had to give up her city centre food stall after people found out she was born in Israel and targeted her business.

Debbie told the BBC: "I have always been interested in antisemitism because there have always been comments all my life and issues.

"It all came to a head after 7 October - that is when our lives as Jews in the country really did change."

She is referring to the the Hamas-led attack on Israel which saw over 1,200 people killed and 251 others taken back to Gaza as hostages.

Israel responded to the attack by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 71,820 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

"People have been screamed at in the street," she said.

"I keep explaining 'I am British, I was born in Britain, I am a Jew, but I am British, what has it got to do with me what's been going on so many miles away, why are you talking to me like this?'

“We have to think about how we hold ourselves, how we speak to people, whether we admit we are Jewish or not because we don’t know what the backlash is going to be."

Debbie added many of her friends avoided Leeds city centre at the weekend as they were scared people could be aggressive towards them.

"I'm really upset for my children, I am worried for my children as I don’t know what place they are going to have in this society," she said.

She was speaking as Leeds City Council held its first antisemitism awareness week, for employees and partner organisations to learn how they can help stand up against hate crime.

Among the events organised by the council between 2 and 6 February were sessions on how to recognise and respond to religious hate crime.

There was also a visit to a synagogue, offering an opportunity to learn more about Jewish faith, culture and heritage.

The council already organises or supports several awareness events throughout the year, including weeks focused on anti-Muslim prejudice, misogyny, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, and racism.

According to the Home Office, there were 1,543 hate crimes targeted at Jewish people in England and Wales in the year to March 2023, rising to 3,282 by March 2024.

The data for the following year is incomplete, but the Community Security Trust, a group that has monitored the number of antisemitic incidents in the UK for nearly 40 years, says levels over the past two years are the highest since their records began.

Neil, who is from Leeds, said: "You have to stand up and be counted all the time. If I don’t do this, who will?"

He said global events meant many Jews did not want to advertise their race or religion.

“You would not go around and announce that you are Jewish," he said.

“A war precipitates this, anything anti-Israel precipitates hatred towards the local Jewish community. People jump on a bandwagon.

“But we do get favourable comments and we look forward to talking to people here.”

Rachel, whose name we have changed to protect her, was born in Israel and has lived in the UK for 15 years.

She is married with children and lives in West Yorkshire.

Rachel operated a food business in the centre of Leeds, but gave up her stall after she was targeted by protesters who used anti-Israeli and antisemitic comments and urged others to boycott her.

"My food was Middle Eastern, nothing said Israeli and I was targeted constantly about my identity both in person and online," she said.

"Some people came to where I traded and videoed me and my staff and harassed us.

"Also online, they called for my business to be boycotted and called me a ‘baby killer’ and some awful other words."

She said a picture of her stall was posted online along with her home address.

“I have kids, I am just here to sell tasty food and I love what I do. I am not here to talk about politics, I am here with love to sell food to people," she said.

Council leader James Lewis said: "Our Jewish community in Leeds dates back hundreds of years and we are proud of the huge contribution throughout that time the community has made and continues to make to the city's social, economic and cultural life."

Susie Gordon, of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, said: "Antisemitism awareness week gives people across Leeds the chance to learn, listen and talk about what antisemitism looks like today and its impact on people's lives."

She said the event "fosters understanding and compassion."

The government has pledged to take action against antisemitism, including by providing better support to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities, educate people about antisemitism and tackle the issue within key institutions such as the NHS, and in culture and sport.

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