As Jewish religious leaders, we are deeply concerned by the rise of racist rhetoric in Britain.
Statements such as “a piece of paper doesn’t make you British” create a climate of prejudice and fear. Scapegoating immigrants and refugees is antithetical to our sacred commandment to “love the stranger.”
Candidates endorsed by far-right extremists like Tommy Robinson have no place in mainstream politics. As a community of refugees and their descendants, we abhor any effort to normalise the views of hotel protesters. Our community has experienced the brunt of fascism, and we know where such hatred leads.
We call on politicians to cease sowing division. We commit to work to build common cause between all the communities of Britain, as our Torah teaches: “You shall have one law for the native and the immigrant alike.”
Signatories:
Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen
Rabbi Rachel Benjamin
Rabbi Francis Ronald Berry
Rabbi Rebecca Birk
Rabbi Daisy Bogod
Rabbi Barbara Borts
Rabbi Janet Burden
Rabbi Cliff Cohen
Rabbi Janet Darley
Rabbi Colin Eimer
Rabbi Adam Frankenberg
Rabbi Paul Freedman
Rabbi Ariel J Friedlander
Rabbi Anna Gerrard
Rabbi Naomi Goldman
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein
Rabbi Roberta Harris Eckstein
Rabbi Margaret Jacobi
Rabbi Richard Jacobi
Cantor Zöe Jacobs
Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner
Rabbi Gabriel Kanter-Webber
Rabbi Sandra Kviat
Rabbi Daniel Lichman
Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet
Rabbi Monique Mayer
Rabbi Jeffrey Newman
Rabbi Rene Pfertzel
Rabbi Elisheva Salamo
Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah
Rabbi Lev Saul
Rabbi Fabian Sborovsky
Rabbi Sybil Sheridan
Rabbi Gershon Sillins
Rabbi Amnon Daniel Smith
Rabbi Lily Solochek
Rabbi Mark Solomon
Rabbi Daniela Thau
Rabbi Kath Vardi
Cantor Rachel Weston
Rabbi Alexandra Wright
Rabbi Anna Wolfson
Cantor Tamara Wolfson
Rabbi Igor Zinkov
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