Though it may not have been the decisive factor, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson benefited in his landslide election victory from a severe backlash against the anti-Semitism that engulfs the Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour Party. With the election out of the way, there’s a natural question about how seriously Johnson will take the issue of anti-Semitism now that the issue is no longer of immediate political use to him. But his Hanukkah message was a positive sign.
Oftentimes, holiday messages by politicians are perfunctory. But Johnson went beyond wishing Jews a happy Hanukkah to acknowledge the rise in anti-Semitism, emphasize the importance of the British Jewish population, and reassure British Jews that they would be protected.
Britain would not be Britain without its Jewish community. And we will stand with you and celebrate with you – at Chanukah and all year round. pic.twitter.com/S5ClRprCuL
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) December 22, 2019
Britain has experienced an alarming rise in anti-Semitic incidents, with this year on pace to have the most attacks on Jews or Jewish institutions since record-keeping began in 1984. British Jews are increasingly finding it difficult to walk to synagogue or be identifiable as Jewish in public.
Johnson spoke about lighting the menorah on Hanukkah as a declaration of, “I am Jewish, and I am proud of it.”
He went on to say: “I know that recent years have not been easy ones for British Jews. In the media, on the streets, and particularly online, anti-Semites have, in alarming numbers, been emboldened to crawl out from under their rocks and begin, once again, to spread their brand of noxious hatred far and wide.”
Recalling the Hanukkah story, Johnson said: “When the Maccabees drove the forces of darkness out of Jerusalem, they had to do so on their own. Today, as Britain’s Jews seek to drive back the darkness of resurgent anti-Semitism, you have every decent person in this country fighting by your side. Because Britain would not be Britain without its Jewish community.”
Johnson’s encouraging message needs to be followed up with tangible steps to ensure the security of British Jews and beat back the tide of anti-Semitism that he is, at least, acknowledging.
