A Jewish student chaplain, who was forced into hiding after receiving hundreds of threatening phone calls and death threats after returning from reserve duty in Gaza, has condemned university leaders for not doing more to protect him and his family.

Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, his wife Nava and their children will be returning home to Israel following the end of their three-year post as Leeds University’s Jewish chaplaincy couple, it was announced on Tuesday.

As an Israeli citizen, Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch was, like many others, called up for miluim (reserve duty) shortly after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7 that claimed the lives of some 1,200 people with hundreds more taken hostage.

Upon returning to the UK a couple of months later, the rabbi and his wife were subjected to hundreds of intimidatory phone calls, recordings and online messages, with threats of murder and rape, they said. The campus’ Jewish centre, Hillel House, was graffitied by anti-Israel activists.

The couple and their family were moved to a secret location on the advice of the police in February.

The Leeds University Jewish chaplain Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch and his family were targeted after he was called up to serve in the IDF; (pictured) graffiti on Hillel House at Leeds University

Announcing their departure, the couple said that there had been “many moments” when they felt the university “should have been much stronger in protecting our family, and the Jewish students from those elements on campus who were attacking Israel and our right to be Jews.”

They added that “despite these challenges, we return to Israel grateful for having completed our three-year term serving the students in Leeds and Yorkshire, proud of everything we have achieved together over three incredibly meaningful years.”

The couple thanked the University Jewish Chaplaincy (UJC) team, the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, the CST, the Board of Deputies, the JLC, the Leeds Jewish community and others for offering “such incredible moral and physical support”.

Commenting on the assaults at the time, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis condemned “the shameful antisemitic abuse and violent threats directed at the Jewish Chaplaincy couple in Leeds, their young children and the Jewish students,” saying it was “emblematic of the extremism which stains our society”.

Commenting on their return to Israel, Sophie Dunoff, chief executive of UJC, said the Deutschs had made “a significant contribution” to UJC and the Jewish student community in Leeds.

“The dignity with which they faced the torrent of antisemitic abuse post October 7 was heroic, and I know gave strength and inspiration to the local Jewish student population.

"Despite the violent threats to which they were subjected, the Deutschs bravely decided to caomplete their three-year term of service. We are proud and in awe of their commitment to their students and the continuity of Jewish student life in Leeds and the Yorkshire region.

“Whilst we are obviously sad to see Rabbi Zecharia and Nava Deutsch and their wonderful family leave, we offer them our heartfelt thanks and wish them every success back home in Israel.”

A recruitment process will begin to find a chaplaincy couple to succeed the Deutschs.

A University of Leeds spokesperson said: “We look forward to working with the University Jewish Chaplaincy in ensuring that we continue to provide the chaplaincy support required by our Jewish students, as part of our rich and diverse campus community.

“The University of Leeds remains deeply shocked and saddened by the events of Friday 9 February, during which Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch received public threats to his safety and that of his family, and Hillel House was attacked.

“We totally condemn the anti-Semitic abuse and threats directed towards the Chaplain and his family – such attacks on any individual are unacceptable and will not be tolerated from members of the public or our University community. Antisemitism is a hatred that has no place on our campus.”