North London Jewish Schools Shut Doors Amidst Spike in Antisemitic Attacks
Two north London Jewish schools have taken drastic action, closing their doors as antisemitic incidents soar. Torah Vodaas Primary in Edgware and Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary in Colindale announced closures to protect pupils amid rising fears linked to the ongoing conflict in Israel. The schools plan to reopen on Monday but advised Jewish students to conceal their uniforms for safety.
324% Surge in Antisemitic Attacks Shocks UK
The Community Security Trust (CST), the leading Jewish charity tracking hate crimes, revealed a staggering 324% jump in antisemitic incidents between October 7-10 this year. A shocking 89 cases were logged in just four days — up from 21 in the same period last year.
- Incidents include assaults, threats, property damage, verbal abuse, hate mail, and online harassment.
- Perpetrators often cloak their hatred in pro-Palestinian political rhetoric to intimidate British Jews.
- The figure eclipses previous conflict spikes like May 2021 (70 incidents) and July 2014 (29 incidents).
These numbers are provisional and expected to rise as further reports are verified.
Government Pours £18m Into Jewish Community Security
Responding swiftly, the UK government has pledged an extra £3 million—boosting total funding to £18 million for 2023-24—to ramp up Jewish community protection. This will fund additional security guards in schools during the day, and bolster synagogue patrols on Friday nights and Saturdays.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a high-level Downing Street meeting with ministers, police chiefs, and CST representatives to tackle security and manage protests. The PM vowed firm support for protecting Britain’s Jewish communities amid rising tensions.
Community Urged to Report Hate Without Delay
Rabbi Feldman of Torah Vodaas stressed that the school closure was not a reaction to a direct threat but a precaution given the volatile atmosphere. CST urged everyone experiencing or witnessing antisemitism to report incidents immediately to the police and CST.
“By acting fast against hate, we can catch and prosecute those who seek to intimidate our community,”
the charity said, highlighting the importance of swift action to keep communities safe.
