closeicon

In a few short years, Corbyn has fallen into irrelevance...And the passing of a genuinely great man

The JC Leaders, 23 June 2023

articlemain

Polish-born Holocaust survivors Ben Helfgott, 84, poses for a photograph in London on May 5, 2014, as he arrives to attend The Holocaust Commission consultation event. Hundreds of survivors of the Holocaust will give their views on how the Holocaust should be remembered in Britain to inform recommendations the Commission will make to the Prime Minister in December. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

June 22, 2023 11:07

For four years, our community faced the nightmare prospect of a Corbyn government.

It was an unprecedented and sickening time, with antisemitism part of the day-to-day debate of politics.

Jeremy Corbyn was cheered and saluted by crowds who ought to have known better, such as the infamous “Oh, Jeremy Corbyn” moment at Glastonbury in 2017.

How times have changed.

This year, by contrast, a film alleging a Jewish conspiracy to subvert democracy and which is named after the chant, which was due to be screened at the festival on Sunday, was withdrawn when the organisers realised they would be showing a piece of antisemitic propaganda.

Mr Corbyn is no longer a Labour MP and cannot stand for the party again. He has gone from penning a manifesto for government to editing a collection of poems.

He is now a well-merited irrelevance.

A genuinely great man

Sir Ben Helfgott was a giant of our community.

He was an inspiration, a force of nature and a man who led a full, rich and — after his liberation from Theresienstadt — joyful life.

His influence for good was global, but after his arrival here he was British to his core.

How fortunate the country was to have him. May his memory be for a blessing.

June 22, 2023 11:07

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive