ByRobyn Rosen, Robyn Rosen
A Messianic community in East Kilbride, near Glasgow, has reported an “alarming” rise in antisemitism.
The Beit Rehovot Messianic Jewish Congregation meet weekly at a community hall and has experienced a flood of verbal abuse and threatening behaviour from youths.
The group formerly met at the Mossneuk Community Hall, which last weekend was daubed in graffiti, including the words “Jews’ night tonight lads, get your Jew cap on.”
Asher Kramer Chalmers, who leads the group, said that more than a dozen incidents had occurred in the past year and the police had to be called a number of times. “We have had terrible problems with youths banging on the windows and shouting ‘Jews out’ and ‘Kill the Jews’.”
Mr Chalmers, who styles himself Rabbi, also said that members of his community who wear kippot had been bombarded with abusive comments.
He added: “It has made me realise that antisemitism is really endemic in British society. I believe this is a direct result of the demonisation of Israel and Jewish people. We are now seen as legitimate targets for abuse and antisemitic attacks.”
But the Community Security Trust (CST) has distanced itself from the group, not considered halachically Jewish.