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BRITAIN’S BIGGEST JEWISH NEWSPAPER 22 March 2018
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6 Nisan 5778
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Issue No.1046
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@JewishNewsUK
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‘Stop keeping shtum’ Chief Rabbi attacks Muslim silence on anti-Semitism
The Chief Rabbi this week criticised the silence of Muslim leaders in the fight against rising anti-Semitism, writes Jack Mendel. Speaking at the Sixth Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem, Ephraim Mirvis (pictured) hailed the “many outstanding friends” who were ready to “stand up and be counted”, but complained they were the “exception to the rule”. He added: “The truth is that our journey is a frustrating one. The rule is today that around the world, Muslim faith leaders are keeping shtum (on anti-Semitism).” He vented frustration that too often
Muslim leaders had had “cold feet” before meetings with Jewish representatives, saying: “Time and again when I have established efforts to engage at the highest level – together with global Muslim clerics – at the last moment they have pulled out.” He said some Muslim leaders even refuse to be photographed with Jewish religious figures. However, Mirvis added: “Since the conclusion of the Shoah, Jewish and Christian circles have worked hard to improve our relationships and made
great strides.” Urging leaders of all faiths to meet with him to discuss tackling the scourge, he said, “let’s speak behind closed doors” if needs be. “The threat to Judaism and Jews from the world of Islam is one which can only be cured from within the world of Islam. And the leaders of Islam have to take a stand.” Mirvis praised the response to antiSemitism of successive UK governments who
“have always seen anti-Semitism not merely as a threat to the Jewish community, but rather a threat to all of our society. As a result the fight against anti-Semitism has always been led from the prime minister down”. He praised Sir Eric Pickles, the UK’s special envoy for post-Holocaust issues, who was in the room, saying his position is a “reflection of the seriousness we take anti-Semitism as a whole”. During his trip to Israel, Chief Rabbi Mirvis met with the country’s President Reuven Rivlin and Knesset Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein. Editorial comment, page 20
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