President Reuven Rivlin today (Wednesday, 27 November 2019), during his working visit to London, met Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, and then participated in a UJIA leadership event.

 

In his meeting with the Chief Rabbi, the president lent his support to Rabbi Mirvis’ work, including the article he published recently expressing his concerns about rising anti-Semitism in the UK, and told him “your clear voice and leadership, particularly in the last few days, fills us all with pride.” He also stressed the importance of the global Jewish community as Israel’s ‘fifth tribe’ and expressed his deep solidarity as they face a worrying increase in anti-Semitic incidents.

 

The president then spoke at an event held in his honor by the leadership of UJIA. Chair of UJIA Louise Jacobs also spoke at the event. The president spoke extensively about anti-Semitism in his remarks, saying “Since the Balfour Declaration, Israel has shared common history and common democratic values with Britain. It is because of these strong bonds that we are extremely concerned by the rise in anti-Semitism in the UK.”

 

The president referred to the shocking new figures published by the Community Security Trust (CST), saying, “We cannot accept that in 2019, in the UK and throughout the West, Jewish community events require guards, Jews fear wearing kippot on the streets and the homes of Holocaust survivors are vandalized.”

 

“I recently convened an urgent meeting of counter-antisemitism coordinators from five countries, including Lord Pickles, to coordinate our response. In January, I will host leaders from all over the world at Yad Vashem, to mark seventy-five years since the liberation of Auschwitz. I have invited Prince Charles and hope he will attend. Together we will call on all governments to adopt a policy of zero tolerance for any form of antisemitism. Zero tolerance means providing security for Jewish communities, and countering religious extremism. It means insisting that there is no room for antisemitism in the halls of power, and no room for incitement on social media. It means effective legislation, and effective Holocaust education.”

 

This evening, the president will conclude his visit and return to Israel.

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