It is with a mix of pride and sadness that I look back on 2023: pride that our charity has risen to the challenge facing our community, but sadness that we had to.

It feels like an eternity ago, but there was a time before October 7.

The day before our world changed, we could look back on a string of legal successes. On campuses, there was the finding that NUS had tolerated a “hostile environment” for Jewish students, the departure of an academic we exposed at Birkbeck, and more.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 26: Protestors wear flags of Israel on their backs as they march against anti-Semitism on November 26, 2023 in London, England. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has sparked a wave of protests across Europe, and heightened concerns over anti-Semitism among Jewish communities. (Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)

We continued to assist victims like the young Jewish employee who was unfairly dismissed and the teacher whom we helped reach a settlement with their school. Our policy advocacy secured the retention of a key criminal offence in the draft online harms bill.There was the first-ever national billboard campaign raising awareness of antisemitism and our documentary exposing Roger Waters was watched by hundreds of thousands.

But all of that seems like an age ago. Since October 7, our team has been working around the clock: multitudes of cases reported to the police, regulatory authorities, universities, employers, broadcasters, social media companies and others;  letters to the leaders of political parties, meetings with politicians and public bodies, giving  evidence to Parliamentary committees;  media appearances;polling; video exposés from within anti-Israel demonstrations; full page newspaper ads; podcasts; a billboard and digital van campaign to raise awareness of the hostages; educational sessions; a first-ever event with BBC executives with the Jewish community; numerous rallies and, of course, the national March Against Antisemitism, the largest gathering against antisemitism in a century.

Protesters holding placards take part in a demonstration in central London on November 26, 2023 (Photo: Getty Images)

We built CAA to defend British Jewry. Much of that work takes years, but it was  designed to spring into action ferociously in response to events. I am deeply proud of our  volunteers and staff. As 2024 dawns, our activity will only intensify. Our dedicated team will always do whatever it takes to defend British Jews. Perhaps you will make your new year’s resolution to join us?

Gideon Falter is Chief Executive of the CAA