Historian Deborah Lipstadt, known for her defeat of Holocaust denier David Irving, made her first visit to London as the United States’s special envoy to combat and monitor antisemitism this week.

In talks with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis at his home, they discussed rising antisemitism on British campuses as well as opportunities for Muslim-Jewish dialogue.

She also met deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, tweeting afterwards that it was a pleasure to “reaffirm our shared values and commitment to combat antisemitism and other hatreds, wherever they rear their ugly head.”

She was hosted at the House of Lords by special envoy on post-Holocaust issues, Lord Eric Pickles. Lipstadt, who was appointed envoy in March, was grateful, she said, “for the partnership between the US and the UK to fight antisemitism, intolerance and hate on both sides of the Atlantic.”

On Saturday night, she went to the Royal Court Theatre to see JC columnist Jonathan Freeland’s play Jews. In Their Own Words, holding a round-table with the cast afterwards.
“She had arranged to see the show before she left America, but while here she said also wanted to meet the people involved in it”, Mr Freedland said.

After the performance, she met eight of the 12 people interviewed for the verbatim drama in an encounter that Mr Freedland described as “very emotional”. He said: “I think everyone who was there felt that. There was an intense, after-hours mood.”

Ms Lipstadt told Mr Freedland she was so affected that it was almost hard to stand up after the play.

“She thought the play would be of tremendous value to young people at school and on campus, and was a bit surprised at how more out there British Jews now are about antisemitism,” he said.

The historian came to the meeting with lawyer Anthony Julius, who represented her in the high-profile libel case brought by Holocaust denier David Irving, which she won in 2000.

“Anthony was full of praise for the production, describing it as a new form of Jewish witness,” said Mr Freedland.

“He was very kind but I pointed out that there wouldn’t be a show if it wasn’t for the 12 courageous interviewees.

“The director Vicky Featherstone, who I sat next to, agreed, saying they had shown courage in stepping forward as Jews.”