Bristol Rabbi says Jewish community ‘in pain’ after beach attack

Bristol Rabbi says Jewish community ‘in pain’ after beach attack

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Marcus BootheWest of England

Rob Brown, Bristol 24-7 Rabbi Mende is pictured standing in front of a display that says 'Happy Chanukkah' in College Green, Bristol City Centre. He is wearing a black wide-brimmed hat and a long, black coat. He has a bushy black beard and is wearing glasses. There is a building and metal fencing behind him.Rob Brown, Bristol 24-7

Rabbi Mende said the whole Jewish community was in shock and pain following the attack in Australia

The entire Jewish community has been left “in shock and pain” after two gunmen killed 15 people celebrating Hanukkah on Bondi Beach in Australia, a Bristol rabbi has said.

Speaking at the city’s annual Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, Rabbi Mendi said many Jewish people were fearful after the attack but far more “stood strong”, united in their faith.

“We are blessed to be in a beautiful city and in a nice neighbourhood but I think in the UK, in general, many Jewish people feel under threat,” he said.

The director of Bath & North East Somerset Faith Foundation said he had written to the prime minister and home secretary asking the government to make Holocaust denial a crime in the UK.

Nathan Hartley said denial of the Holocaust was currently an arrestable offence in 17 European countries as well as Canada and Israel.

“It’s time now for the United Kingdom to follow suit and join with the other countries around the world who have legislated against denial of the Holocaust,” he said.

“Such crimes should never be allowed to happen in our country.”

Jenny Silverstone, chairman of Cheltenham Hebrew Congregation, said she was also “still in complete shock”.

She added: “It was so unexpected. We’ve never been free of these awful dreadful events.”

Ms Silverstone said she wanted the attack to be “a wake-up call”.

She said: “Any kind of hate matters and it needs to be dealt with.”

Rob Brown, Bristol 24-7 A man is lighting a candelabrum display in the evening. He is wearing glasses, a black hat and jacket. He is lighting up the display using a wooden torch.Rob Brown, Bristol 24-7

Bath & North East Somerset Faith Foundation has renewed its call on the government to make Holocaust denial a crime in the UK

After the incident first made headline news Iris Segal, from the Progressive Reformed Synagogue, said Avon and Somerset Police contacted the synagogue wishing to increase security in Bristol so planned events could still go ahead across the city.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Ocone said: “There is no place for hate crime or violence anywhere in our society.”

He added: “We remain committed to supporting and safeguarding anyone who is targeted because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or disability.”

Rabbi Mendi said he was very grateful for the police’s support.

“We hope the government will take more concrete action to ensure that this hatred doesn’t go unchecked,” he said.



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