The Jewish Chronicle
It's striking how little we discuss Brexit's impact on British Jews
Keith Kahn-Harris asks why the Jewish communal groups have not engaged seriously with the issue
January 11, 2019 17:11
Keith Kahn-Harris asks why the Jewish communal groups have not engaged seriously with the issue
January 11, 2019 17:11What impact will Brexit — assuming it occurs — have on the British Jewish community? It is striking how limited any discussion of this issue has been.
At Limmud, there was no shortage of panels and lectures on antisemitism, Corbyn, Israel and related issues, but Brexit barely featured. Umbrella bodies such as the Board and JLC have not issued briefing documents or held events that engage seriously with what Brexit will mean.
Moves by British Jews to obtain German passports have attracted media attention, but stories about the effect of Brexit on the Jewish community have been far from normative. Indeed, insofar as we have evidence of how British Jews voted in the 2016 referendum, it is likely along the lines of class, education and location, rather than Jewishness.
This general lack of Jewish engagement may turn out to be a serious mistake. Even if you put aside questions about the relationship between Brexit and antisemitism or questions about how British Jews relate to European Jews, Brexit is likely to pose significant challenges to Jewish life in Britain.
Any Brexit deal, however ‘soft’, is likely to negatively impact on Britain’s economic performance, at least in the short term. A no-deal Brexit, or something close to it, could lead to economic consequences that will reverberate for years. We need to think hard about how will we be able to support our communal bodies. This question becomes all the more acute when you factor in the impact of possible public spending cuts on schools, old-age homes and social services — and the likelihood that more and more Jews will have need of their services.
Then there are the consequences of the pound becoming even weaker. We already have multiple charities sending money to Israel. We will have to ask ourselves some searching questions as to whether it is appropriate to continue to raise huge sums in pounds, with ever diminishing shekel returns, to support institutions in a country with a booming economy.
Would it be right for charities supporting needy British Jews to cut the support they offer because of other charities fundraising in order to send decreasing funds to a less-needy Israel?
We need to stress-test the British Jewish communal economy and find ways to ensure its resilience into the long-term. Whatever Brexit holds, we will experience it as Jews as well as British citizens, and we must consider what this will mean.