Multiple Jewish Schools Close Amid Safety Concerns
Three Jewish schools in North London have made the difficult decision to close their doors due to safety concerns for their students. Torah Vodaas Primary School in Edgware, Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale, and Menorah High School in Neasden have all informed parents that classes will not resume until Monday.
In a letter to parents, Rabbi Feldman of Torah Vodaas emphasised that while there was no specific threat to their school, this decision was not taken lightly. This closure follows a wave of antisemitic incidents in the UK, with the Community Security Trust (CST) recording a tripling of such hate crimes in the last four days. From Saturday, October 7 to Tuesday, October 10, CST documented at least 89 antisemitic incidents, a significant increase compared to the same period in 2022, which had 21 incidents.
The concerns surrounding student safety have escalated due to the ongoing conflict in Israel, leading to fears of retaliatory attacks. Some parents have been advised to have their children disguise their uniforms to avoid drawing attention to their Jewish identity. One father expressed his concern, saying, "In 2023, for my kids to go to school and not be okay to wear a uniform, a kippah, or a star of David on their blazers, to have to hide their identity, it's very scary."
Yesterday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced £3 million in additional funding to protect Jewish schools, synagogues, and other community buildings. This funding will enable the CST to deploy more security guards in supported schools during their operating hours, as well as additional security staff at synagogues on Friday nights and Saturday mornings.
Rabbi Chaim Pinter, the principal of Yesodey Hatorah, mentioned that they have implemented certain measures, including extra patrols and providing therapists and counsellors to students. Many students who are not local to their schools are reportedly now opting for taxis instead of public transport, as safety remains a top priority for parents.
Amid these safety concerns, there is a growing sense of unease among parents and students, prompting the closure of these Jewish schools. These actions reflect the community's commitment to safeguarding their precious children during these uncertain times.
