Jewish community presents government with priorities for comprehensive strategy to tackle antisemitism

28 October 2025

In the wake of the Heaton Park Synagogue terrorist attack, Jewish community organisations have come together to present the Government with a detailed set of policy priorities to tackle antisemitism, and a call for a Comprehensive Government Strategy on Antisemitism.

The document, entitled, ‘After the Heaton Park attack: Towards a Comprehensive Government Strategy on Antisemitism’, has been issued jointly by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Union of Jewish Students, and builds on consultations with other leading communal organisations including the Community Security Trust.

The policy priorities reflect the focus of community engagement with government and others since the attack, focusing on four key areas: policing and security; extremism; civil society; and schools and universities. It builds on existing initiatives including the recent report of the Board of Deputies Commission on Antisemitism.

The organisations say the document should form the foundation for ongoing work between government, experts and partners within and beyond the Jewish community to root out antisemitism from British society.

Commenting on the launch of the document, Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said:

“Following the awful Yom Kippur attack at Heaton Park Synagogue we have seen a series of welcome announcements from the Government. However, these measures on their own will not be sufficient to meet the long-term society-wide challenge of confronting antisemitic hatred. We need to see a Comprehensive Government Strategy on Antisemitism, and this paper points the way to what that should include.”

Keith Black, Chair of the Jewish Leadership Council said:

“The murder of Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, was a devastating blow to our community’s sense of safety and belonging in this country. In the aftermath of this horrific terrorist incident, the government’s announcement of up to £10 million in emergency funding to protect Jewish communities is an important step to prevent further attacks. But protecting Jewish life must not end at physical security measures. We need sustained action to combat the root causes of antisemitism and extremism which make this security funding necessary. It is time for a Comprehensive Government Strategy on Antisemitism.”

Louis Danker, President, Union of Jewish Students said:

"Combatting antisemitism and extremism on campus must be central to coordinated cross-government action on antisemitism. Jewish students welcome the steps taken so far to extend UJS antisemitism training and demand action from universities. However, extreme student groups have never been so emboldened to glorify terrorism and incite hate. Government must act with urgency to break the culture of impunity, clarify universities' obligations, and root out antisemitism from our campuses."