If 2014 taught us anything about fostering warm relations between British Jews and Muslims, it was simply this: don’t mention the war. I mentioned it once, in the opening sentence, but I think I got away with it all right. So it’s all forgotten now and let’s hear no more about it. Discuss charitable initiatives; bang Continue reading

If a reminder were needed of how irrationally polarised opinion on Israel and the Palestinians has become it arrived right on cue, on Tuesday morning, courtesy of the Twitter account of Baroness Warsi. The former Foreign Office minister, who resigned in August over the Government’s response to the Gaza conflict, felt the appropriate response to news Continue reading

Editor of Jewish News, Richard Ferrer, broadcaster Ed Adoo and comedian Katie Lane discuss how they cope… Broadcast on London Live, 6/10/14 Click here to view Continue reading

The publishing world is plagued with simple-minded books. Toe-curling examples include Kardashian Konfidential by Kim Kardashian, Learning To Fly by Victoria Beckham and the autobiographical oeuvre of Sharon Osbourne. All would benefit from concise editor’s notes at the start of each chapter to help the poor reader navigate the dross. But of all the rambling, incoherent nonsense ever committed Continue reading

It’s the week before the 2008 Oscars and Joan Rivers is noisily noshing on a protein-packed broccoli and cauliflower salad. “Sorry about all the loud chomp, chomp noises,” she loudly chomp-chomps down the phone from New York. “I’m shaping up for the Academy Awards. Those red carpet photographers can be so cruel!” The scathing 75-year-old’s Continue reading

An open-ended ceasefire came into effect on Tuesday between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If not peace, then at least this is quiet. For now. Fifty days of fighting – Israel’s longest conflict since the 1948 War of Independence – left more than 2,200 people dead, tens of thousands displaced and great swathes of Continue reading

The oldest hatred, this time cloaked as legitimate concern for Gaza, has once again cast its ominous shadow across Europe. From Berlin, Paris and Rome to Amsterdam, Ankara and Istanbul, protests are turning into pogroms. In France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish community, Prime Minister Manuel Valls has warned of a “new anti-Semitism” taking hold. Continue reading

Plain old Jew-hatred dressed up as concern for Palestinians raised its hideously familiar head across the world this week. From Berlin, Paris and Rome to Amsterdam, Ankara and Istanbul, protests turned to pogroms and shuls were attacked. A German imam urged his congregation to murder Jews. Malicious mood music was also heard loud and clear on Continue reading

This week I was called a “slimy Jew”, a “rabid Zionist” and “filthy racist scum”. It all started on Saturday night when sinister tweets began appearing on my timeline, claiming I’d been “tripped up”, had “got my comeuppance” and been a “naughty boy”. Next came a barrage of links to a message board on Muslim website Continue reading

Hope turned to heartbreak on Monday as the bodies of kidnapped Israeli teenagers Eyal Yifrah, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Fraenkel were found beneath a pile of rocks outside Hebron. Now comes the agonising question: what next? As every Israeli parent holds their children a little closer tonight and asks: who next? Thoughts and prayers are with the boys’ families and a grief-stricken Continue reading