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Opinion

The trashing of Jonathan Sacks is a trashing of all Jews

On antisemitism, Lord Sacks speaks for all but a tiny minority of Jews, says David Hirsh

August 29, 2018 19:09
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, pictured in 2016
1 min read

I feel that there's something humiliating for all Jews about the trashing of Rabbi Sacks.

I thought of starting with some left-cred throat-clearing about ways in which I'm critical of him. But I'm done with that nowadays.

On the issue of Corbyn and antisemitism he speaks for Jews; except for the tiny minority who are prepared, under antisemitic duress, to declare their disavowal of Israel and Zionism and hence escape the hostile and external designation of "Zionist" - meaning racist, pro-apartheid etc.

Some will say that he exaggerated a bit and others will say he wasn't tactically astute. Actually I don't agree with either of these criticisms but, I don't think they matter. If he had expressed himself more conservatively it would have changed nothing.