The UK should recognize Judaism as an ethnicity as well as a religion, the Board of Deputies (BoD) of British Jews recommended in its new commission on antisemitism, released on Tuesday.
Two governmental figures – Lord Mann of Holbeck Moor and Dame Penny Mordaunt – backed the commission, which provides 10 main recommendations to the British government regarding antisemitism.
BoD president, Phil Rosenberg, said he was propelled by “the vertiginous growth of antisemitism” to carry out the sector-by-sector review of anti-Jewish racism across all parts of civil society.
Much of the research was conducted through oral evidence sessions with different focus groups, such as Jewish communal organizations, students and Staff Network representatives, members of trade unions, those working in the arts industry, the Community Security Trust, and the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community.
Written evidence was also collected. The BoD concluded that there are specific and identifiable weaknesses in how antisemitism is being combated in the UK.
One of the most prominent recommendations was the call for Judaism to be seen as an ethnicity as well as a religion, specifically to ensure that antisemitism in the workplace is dealt with correctly.
Judaism as an ethnoreligion
“Recognizing Jewish identity as both a religion and ethnicity helps to encapsulate the kaleidoscope of contemporary Jewish identities,” wrote the BoD.
The commission found that antisemitism has not been given sufficient attention in some workplaces, educational institutions, and the arts, because it is not understood as a form of racism. Related to this was another recommendation, which calls for proper understanding and awareness of antisemitism via training among EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) staff.
Another key recommendation underscored the need for consistent antisemitism training at a high standard. The BoD called for the creation of an ‘Antisemitism Training Qualification’ to ensure that those carrying out training on contemporary antisemitism know how to set a high-quality standard. The commission noted that while there has been an increased uptake in training, there is a lack of reputable antisemitism training provided by qualified educators.
A recognized agency that would lead on antisemitism training would help to rectify this, it argued.
One recommendation tackled antisemitism and anti-Jewish schools in primary education. It was sparked by a proposal by the Winchester Diocese and the local Jewish community to teach primary school teachers how to avoid passing on tropes in their lessons, particularly focusing on Christian sources. The BoD recommended that this be rolled out through faith schools across the United Kingdom.
“Modern-day antisemitism has taken on a unique form, but unfortunately some manifestations of antisemitism are based on historical tropes and conspiracy theories, such as those relating to claims of blood libel and wealth.”
It added there has been evidence that some faith primary schools “inadvertently use antisemitic tropes when teaching subjects like Religious Education” and that teachers should be better equipped with the correct knowledge to prevent this.
Antisemitism in the National Health Service (NHS)
GIVEN THE abundance of reports in recent years regarding the proliferation of antisemitism in the National Health Service (NHS), it was unsurprising that one recommendation focused on tackling this specifically. The BoD said its evidence highlighted “a specific unaddressed issue of antisemitism within the NHS” and recommended that a summit be held with NHS leaders across the UK to begin addressing this.
“Many Jewish employees within NHS organizations feel that antisemitism in their workplace is not being addressed” and that it has “simply been swept under the carpet.” This is an urgent matter, it continued, given the NHS is “for everyone,” and Jewish patients and staff should not feel concerned about different treatment.
BoD’s commission also noted that the UK Jewish community has a long and proud history of involvement in the UK arts world, but that there is significant indication of “hidden barriers being put in front of Jewish involvement in the arts.”
While discrimination is illegal, it is costly to challenge legally, BoD added, and there is thus an increase in incidents of prohibiting Jewish participants, comedians, musicians, actors, or others from performing, promoting events, or spectating.
“Jewish individuals and groups within the arts have experienced difficulty with showcasing their work since October 7,” it added, noting that “artists who previously worked in the industry with ease found the door closed after October 7.” BoD specifically mentioned the role of boycotts, protests, and cancellations in hindering the line of work of Jewish artists and in many cases, stopping it completely.
“We can identify that some venues are choosing to opt out of hosting certain artists in order to avoid possible conflicts and additional security costs. It is unacceptable that Jewish artists are being discriminated against on the basis of their ethnicity.”
This is especially concerning, as arts venues that receive public funding should abide by the principles of their grant, BoD noted.
The final recommendation relating to policing in the UK calls for “consistent decision-making and standards across all police forces,” specifically in relation to antisemitic crimes. “Police forces and prosecutors have undeniably faced an immense amount of pressure since October 7, with the rise in antisemitic incidents. In order for communities to have confidence in law and justice, police forces must have consistent and efficient processes in place.”
It noted that police support to the Jewish community and the Community Security Trust is appreciated, but that improvements can be made to ensure that there is a consistent standard and understanding of antisemitism across all police forces throughout the country.
“It is unacceptable that the Jewish community has faced an onslaught of antisemitism since October 7,” Lord Mann said. “Whilst this is not new, the Commission heard shocking experiences that we will not ignore. Antisemitism is racism, and it must be treated as such. We hope these recommendations will provide additional guidance and action for civil society.”
Dame Mordaunt added that “No person should face abuse or discrimination whilst going about their business, whether it is pursuing the career of their choice or accessing public services. We wanted to suggest some very practical things that can be dealt with swiftly and will dramatically improve people’s experiences.”