20 December 2018

Liberal Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Danny Rich, has joined other Christian and Jewish leaders to speak out against the rise of antisemitism in the UK and the persecution of Christians in many parts of the world.

Danny was a signatory to a letter in The Times which reads: “Antisemitism and antisemitic discourse is noticeably growing in public life and within social media in the UK. As leaders of the Jewish and Christian communities in the UK we are concerned where this situation may lead.

“Antisemitism has no place in our society and those in positions of power and influence must listen to these concerns. Similarly we continue to speak out on anti-Christian sentiment and persecution of Christians in many parts of the world.”

Other Jewish leaders to sign included Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Reform Judaism’s senior rabbi, Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, the senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism.

Christian leaders included the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales Cardinal Vincent Nichols and the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Britain Archbishop Gregorious.

The letter, which was put together by the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ), concluded: “We call on people of faith to act together with us to promote religious and cultural understanding and advance the elimination of religious and racial prejudice, with particular reference to antisemitism, through education, dialogue and social action.”

The Chair of CCJ, Bishop of Lichfield Dr Michael Ipgrave, said: “Churches today have a particular responsibility to address historic Christian anti-Judaism which in some cases still informs prejudice in our society.

“We must inspire people of faith to act to eradicate antisemitism from society and seek to build together a community which respects the individual, celebrates diversity, and pursues the common good.”