There has been a lot of talk about antisemitism in the past few months. But should the British Indian community be concerned? The answer is yes.
Antisemitism is a scourge that goes well-beyond the Jewish community. It goes right to the heart of our British values, raising serious questions about who we are as a country and a society at a time of immense uncertainty. And it is for this reason I decided to bring the debate to the House of Lords earlier this week.
History teaches us that hatred that starts with Jews, does not end there. The Holocaust did not claim only Jewish lives. Extremist terrorism is not only aimed at Jews. Far right hatred does not only target Jews. When prejudice – any prejudice – rears its ugly head, no community can afford to stay in its comfort zone. Because hate know no bounds. As Dr Rami Ranger mentioned in his “Letters to Editor” last week [4 September 2018], when any community comes under threat, it is only a matter of when, not if, other groups will fall victim.
As British Indians, it is our duty to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish friends. We are no strangers to prejudice ourselves. We faced many challenges as immigrants trying to integrate into British society. In those early days it was the Jewish community that welcomed Ugandan Asians with open arms. The Board of Deputies of British Jews were at the forefront in helping Ugandan Asians to settle and to adjust to our new lives here in Britain.
In many ways our success as a community is down to the Jewish community who we looked up on as our role models. Here in Britain, we have emulated their successful formula of building a better life for ourselves and our families. Our commonality of purpose has also been mirrored on a much larger scale with India and Israel now firm allies. The India-Israel relationship continues to strengthen especially since the official visits by Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu to each respective state in attempts to further increase bilateral trade between both countries.
Over the years, our two communities grew to know each other very well, as friends, colleagues, business partners and neighbours who continue to live side by side. We developed a strong bond based on the many values our two cultures share. Both our communities attach great importance to education, enterprise, faith and family. We also feel an overarching loyalty to the country that granted us freedom and equality before the law, that created opportunities for us to realise our aspirations.
So when our Jewish friends tell us they fear for their children’s safety at schools and synagogues. When they say they are afraid to openly identify as Jewish. When they begin to question their future in this country. We must not stay silent.
It is important for us to unite and understand what lies at the heart of the Jewish community’s fears.
