Thousands of British Jews and their allies gathered outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official residence at Downing Street on Sunday to demand urgent action against what one prominent leader called an “epidemic of anti-Jewish hate” that has left the community reeling.

The rally, organized by dozens of Jewish organizations, comes in the wake of a horrifying series of antisemitic attacks, including the stabbing of two Jews in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green, the torching of four Hatzolah ambulances, arson attacks on shuls, and a deadly shooting at a Manchester shul on Yom Kippur.

Attendees waved British, Irish and Israeli flags and held signs calling on the UK to stand against antisemitism, as organizers expressed hope that the “million mensch march” would finally spur the government to take the threat seriously.

But despite the massive show of solidarity, many Jewish leaders used the occasion to excoriate Starmer and his government for what they see as a feckless response to the rising tide of hate.

In a searing speech, UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis warned that antisemitism has become “normalized” across British society, permeating politics, media, universities, schools, the arts, the National Health Service and the streets.

“It is unacceptable that poisonous antisemitism has become normalized in the UK,” Rabbi Mirvis said, as he condemned social media platforms for allowing “Jew hatred” to spread and criticized Iran for allegedly fomenting violence against British citizens.

Saul Taylor, president of the United Synagogue, was even more blunt, lambasting the broader anti-racism movement for failing to stand up for Jews and accusing the government of dragging its feet in the face of an “epidemic.”

“If this were any other community, this would be a national outrage,” Taylor said. “Where are the Jewish Lives Matter marches? Where is the so-called anti-racist movement? As we know only too well, Jews don’t seem to count.”

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, one of the few high-profile politicians to attend the rally, vowed to confront rising antisemitism and pledged to fight for “a Britain where Jews can go to school and worship freely.”

But her presence only served to highlight the absence of Starmer himself, who was reportedly “considering” attending but ultimately did not show up.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)