www.reformjudaism.org.uk

Taking Responsibility for Securing our Community

Thursday, 18 March 2010

At this time last year, CST and the Movement for Reform Judaism asked that you play your part in helping to take responsibility for the physical protection of our community.

Now, with CST having reported an unprecedented number of antisemitic attacks during the course of 2009, we are asking for you to repeat your commitment.

In addition to the increasing numbers of actual antisemitic incidents, it is apparent that terrorism will threaten this country for many years to come. This terrorism, mainly pro-Al Qaeda, targets all of British society but includes a murderous hatred of Jews. Meanwhile, in politics, two members of the racist British National Party now represent our country in the European Parliament. On campus, the threatened academic boycott of Israel typifies the manner in which anti-Israel campaigns can create a very difficult atmosphere for Jewish students.

As these issues intensify, so it also becomes even more important to remember everything that is good about being Jewish in Britain today. Consider the vast range of opportunities that now exist for British Jews to express themselves, in a religious, cultural, political, charitable or even sporting manner and you will see that antisemitism should not be allowed to dominate or overwhelm our thoughts and actions.

CST works with British Jews in order to protect all these positive aspects of our Jewish lives. CST presents its findings to ensure that the police, government and other agencies and communities understand antisemitism and join us in developing strategies against it. In summary, CST spends its working days thinking about antisemitism and putting security in place, so as the rest of the Jewish community can spend their time living their Jewish lives without having to worry about bigotry or prejudice.

CST believes firmly in working with colleagues from throughout the community and enjoys its close partnership with the Movement for Reform Judaism: training security teams at synagogues, providing personnel to secure meetings and services and installing security upgrades. The wisdom of this preventative approach was shown during the Gaza crisis when arsonists failed to burn down a synagogue in London due to its having been fitted with shatterproof glass.

CST has 55 full time staff at offices in London and Manchester, working closely with 3,000 trained volunteers. In 2009, CST’s work saw it secure 1,000 communal events at 600 locations. In itself, the scale of Jewish events secured by CST shows just how many opportunities exist for the expression of a full Jewish life in Britain today. Together, CST and the Movement for Reform Judaism are determined to safeguard our vibrant community and our democratic freedoms.

CST is almost entirely funded by voluntary donations from the Jewish community. Without your support, we cannot fulfil this mission. Please join us in this task by clicking here and donating to CST.

With thanks,

Gerald M. Ronson
Chairman, CST