As rallies and riots become more and more frequent, many British Jews are feeling caught between the far right and the far left, the Chief Rabbi has said.

Wtiting on X/Twitter, Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: “Many iin the Britsh Jewish Community are feeling trapped between the anvil of the hateful far right and the hammer of the conspiratorial extreme left.” 

He called upon all “decent people” to “reject hatred from wherever it comes”, adding: “That is what makes Britain truly great.” 

Mirvis’ message came after an “anti-fascist” group tried to ban Zionists from a Finchley counter protest, following far-right riots across the UK last week. A group called “Finchley Against Fascism” published a leaflet calling for people to “Get Fascists, Racists, Zionists, and Islamophobes out of Finchley”.

In his tweet, the Chief Rabbi wrote: “It is in our DNA to be implacably opposed to ideologies which abhor diversity and which legitimise violence and vandalism against minority communities. Yet it has been made all too clear over recent days that Jews have been unwelcome at many of the counterprotests”.

“The speed with which some have expanded their attacks against fascists and racists, to include attacks on ‘Zionists’, betrays a complete ignorance of who Zionists are and indeed, who Jews are,” he continued.

Protesters gather in North Finchley at a demonstration which was advertised by a flyer saying “Get Fascists, Racists, Zionists, and Islamophobes out of Finchley”

The CST also condemned Finchely Against Fascism’s rhetoric. “To see these posts circulating in relation to a densely populated Jewish area like Finchley is completely wrong and threatening to the Jewish community,” a spokesperson told the JC. “There is no place for such hatred, especially at a time where we must all stand united against antisemitism and racism of all kinds.”

Sarah Sackman, the Jewish MP for Finchley and Golders Green, did not refer directly to Finchley Against Fascism, but posted to social media: “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Whether it’s the far right or far left there can be zero tolerance for antisemitism, Islamophobia or racism in any form. There is no place for such hate in our community”.

Mirvis also condemned campaigners who have shifted blame for far-right protests onto “Zionist financiers abroad,” referring to a recent statement from the chair of the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

In an open letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper published on Tuesday, Massoud Shadjareh said: “Enabled by their Zionist financiers abroad, far-right elements have weaponised the tragic murder of three young girls in Southport to incite the country into pogroms against Muslims and people of colour.”

The Chief Rabbi called this “a lie which serves no purpose other than stirring antagonism and resentment,” and said it was “deeply troubling”.

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