Chief Rabbi Calls for ‘National Soul-Searching’ Following Manchester Synagogue Attack

Published: 03 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

The UK’s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has urged a moment of “national soul-searching” in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack at a Manchester synagogue, warning that rising antisemitism is creating an increasingly dangerous climate in British society.

Speaking ahead of his arrival in Manchester on Friday to join mourners grieving the deaths of two men killed outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue, Mirvis said the tragedy was part of a broader trend of hostility directed against Jews across the country. He highlighted a disturbing escalation of anti-Jewish sentiment not only on Britain’s streets, but also on university campuses, social media, and in sections of the media.

“The attack came in the wake of an unrelenting wave of hatred against Jews,” Mirvis told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Referring specifically to the slogan “globalise the intifada,” often heard at protests, he said: “Britain has seen with tragic clarity what those words mean.”

Mirvis questioned why protests, including those calling for the lifting of the ban on Palestine Action, continue to be permitted despite containing, in his words, “outright antisemitism and outright support for Hamas.” He acknowledged that not every protester engaged in such rhetoric but argued that the tone of many demonstrations was feeding into anti-Jewish sentiment and ultimately encouraging extremism. “You cannot separate the words on our streets, the actions of people in this way and what inevitably results. The two are directly linked,” he said, calling on the government to “get a grip” on these demonstrations.

He emphasised that the demonisation of Israel in public discourse was also fuelling anti-Jewish sentiment within Britain and warned that the government must be alert to how such rhetoric shapes extremism. “So much of it is hateful,” he added, insisting that those in positions of responsibility must take stronger action to curb the risks posed to Jewish communities.

Defend Our Juries, the group behind upcoming London demonstrations in support of lifting the ban on Palestine Action, said it intended to continue with its protest this Saturday. The organisation said it “utterly condemned” the Manchester attack but urged police to focus on protecting vulnerable communities rather than restricting protest rights.

Faith leaders across Britain, Mirvis noted, had a specific responsibility to encourage peace and unity in both public and private life. “We must speak about controlling our mouths, the views that we say, how we express those views. A faith leader must encourage harmony and peace on our streets and in our homes,” he said.

His call for restraint and responsibility echoed internationally, as Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, described Thursday’s events as a “horrific day” not just for Britain’s Jewish community but for Jews around the world. “It’s a shocking reminder of what we’ve been alerting on for quite some time, that this heatwave of antisemitism and anti-Jewish feelings all over the world at the end reaches bloodshed,” Herzog told LBC.

Others joined the demand for urgent government action, including Danny Cohen, former controller of BBC One, who told Times Radio that a “national inquiry into antisemitism” should be established immediately. “Something has gone badly wrong in our society, and it needs urgently addressing,” he said.

The chief rabbi’s remarks underscore growing unease within Britain’s Jewish community and beyond, as rising hate speech and extremist rhetoric increasingly appear connected to violent acts. The Manchester attack, Mirvis said, must serve as a turning point for Britain to reflect on the consequences of unchecked hate and to take stronger steps to ensure the safety and dignity of all its citizens.