Shropshire a haven from anti-Semitism, says Jewish leader

Mark Michaels says Shropshire is and continues to be a haven from anti-Semitism.

But he today spoke of his fear that there is a creeping threat to Jewish people, fuelled by recent events in France.

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA) claimed this week that Britain is at a "tipping point" and warned anti-Semitism would grow in the country unless it was met by "zero tolerance".

The comments followed a YouGov survey commissioned by the CAA that found nearly half of Britons hold at least one view that could be considered anti-Semitic.

The campaign also said that last year saw the most anti-Semitic incidents recorded by police since records began 30 years ago.

Mr Michaels, who runs the Judaism in South Shropshire Group, said the concerns and experiences had been reflected by many of his friends and relatives.

"Without a doubt, dinner table conversation over the summer and autumn has, for the first time in my memory, been about anti-Semitism and the future of the Jewish community in Britain.

"That the subject was even discussed is alarming. People's concerns I would say are at the highest level since the 1930s.

"I think part of it is because of the distance now from events in the 1930s and and 1940s – as that gets further away the horror of it gets diluted in the minds of the general population.

"But in part I think it's the connection that's sometimes made between being Jewish and the action of the government of the State of Israel.

"It is assumed that all Jews have one view and are supportive of and responsible for the actions of one nation state.

"Maybe some are, but they are very often not.

"We wouldn't blame all Christians for the actions of other nominally Christian nations or Muslims for Muslim nations."

Mr Michaels, who lives in Montgomery on the Shropshire border, is part of the South Shropshire Interfaith Forum that shows solidarity across different religions.

He said thankfully he had never encountered problems since he moved to the region with his wife and daughters 24 years ago.

"We're very open in our Jewish identity, but so far, I'm happy to say, we've never had any difficulty with that whatsoever in terms of personal experience," he said.

"We've always been made to feel very welcome and very comfortable. I think that others here would say the same – I have to say I have come across absolutely no anti-Semitism in Shropshire and its borders," he said.