Staff Reports
Jeremy Jacobs, the former head of the United Synagogue charity, has announced he is leaving Britain and moving to Israel. He says rising antisemitism has made him lose faith in British society. He has put his house up for sale and is planning a new life. This is a bitter moment for a man whose family has been in Britain for generations.
Why Jacobs says he is leaving
Jacobs wrote that he no longer trusts that most people in Britain would protect Jews. He described being shouted at for wearing a kippah and watching students harass his grandchildren during protests. He compared what he sees in universities to the early signs of hatred in other times and places. He also pointed to recent attacks and arson aimed at Jewish institutions that have left many feeling unsafe.
Campus culture and public indifference
Universities, marches, and the danger of normalizing hate
One of the sharpest parts of Jacobs’ warning is about campuses and public demonstrations. When young people learn to shout and shame instead of listen, speech crosses into harassment. Jacobs says seeing “Free Palestine” stickers everywhere and regular anti-Israel marches makes him fear we’ve passed a point of no return. That should alarm everyone who cares about free debate and public safety, not just members of the Jewish community.
What Britain must do now
If Britain wants to keep citizens like Jeremy Jacobs, it must act. That means tougher policing of hate crimes, clear rules to protect places of worship, and real discipline on university campuses when students attack or intimidate other students. Political leaders must name antisemitism for what it is and stop treating it as just one side of a debate. Ordinary people also matter — quiet acts of support help — but governments set the tone and must do better.
This is a warning the country should not shrug off. A Jewish leader who grew up in Britain and watched his family for generations choose to leave is a clear sign something is broken. If Britain wants to remain the tolerant, safe society it once was, it needs to wake up and act before more people vote with their feet. Otherwise, Britain risks losing more than homes — it risks losing a piece of its soul.
