Rabbis have written to their local Labour party “to express deep concern and anger” over its decision to invite the pro-Corbyn, fringe Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) group to address members.

In a letter sent on Monday to the chair and secretary of Enfield Southgate constituency Labour party (CLP), Rabbi Daniel Epstein, of Cockfosters and North Southgate synagogue, and Rabbi Yuval Keren, of Southgate Progressive Synagogue, condemned JVL for being "consistent in their claim that there is little or no antisemitism in the Labour party".

They wrote “JVL are not in any way a representative body of the Jewish community or its opinions.

“They are out of touch with the vast majority of the Jewish community and they lack real understanding of the feelings and concerns of the community.”

A member of JVL has reportedly been invited to give “political education” at the CLP's meeting on Thursday evening.

The rabbis added: “Most of our community are concerned about antisemitism, know that it is increasing, and, at times, have experienced this first hand, and so find such claims insulting at the very least.”

Last month, Rabbis in the Hornsey & Wood Green constituency wrote to their local MP, Catherine West, protesting her CLP’s decision to affiliate with JVL, saying: “JVL has consistently downplayed and in certain circumstances denied antisemitism in the party and instead characterised any complaints as a 'smear' or part of a 'witch hunt'.

In their letter, the two Southgate rabbis urged the local Labour group to cancel JVL's appearance and instead look to the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), the party's affiliate that has "grassroots supports within the Jewish community" and "offers guidance and training on the subject of antisemitism within the Labour movement”.

Speaking to the JC, Rabbi Epstein referred to the open letter signed by 68 rabbis in July, warning Labour of the problem of Jew-hate within its ranks.

"This is a real concern, that these people (JVL) are not speaking for us or for the community," he said.

“In each constituency, we need to think about how we stand up for our local members and local concerns. A national letter is important for a national statement, but a constituency, local level expression is also important, so that people know where we stand.”

Rabbi Keren said that he had “worked with people who are members of Labour and have been very active in the Enfield Southgate CLP to draft that letter.”

Speaking about his congregation, he said: “Tthere is concern about what is happening in the Labour party [as a whole] and within the local Labour party.

“Many of our members, people come to me and say ‘I used to vote for Labour but I can’t do it anymore’. There is that feeling that especially what is happening in the local Labour party is worrying.”

In a response to the rabbis, the CLP said that the meeting had been rescheduled until January, but that "our approach, as a Constituency Labour Party, is to facilitate all voices in the Jewish community being heard, and we do not believe that any one group speaks on behalf of all Jews, or that any Jewish group should be excluded, censored, or no-platformed at the behest of another. 

"We believe that dialogue is the key to understanding the different points of view, and that that should take place in an atmosphere of mutual respect. 

We are writing to the JLM to invite them to our January meeting, or if they prefer, to a later meeting where they would provide the only speaker on the platform."

Mark Gardner, director of communications at the Community Security Trust, said:

“Local constituency Labour groups in areas with sizeable Jewish communities, such as Southgate, know full well that the concerns expressed about antisemitism are deeply and genuinely held by their own Jewish members and local Jewish constituents. Sadly, if that Labour group then very deliberately shows favour to those who deny antisemitism whilst fostering contempt against mainstream Jewry, then it tells us all we need to know about the Labour group’s own hostility towards their Jewish members, neighbours and constituents.”