Jewish News Today: Diaspora Leaders Convene in UK, Dublin Hotel Cancels Antisemitism Conference Rooms, and Bomb Threats Hit Jewish Schools

The heads of the world's seven largest diaspora Jewish communities gathered in the United Kingdom this week to coordinate their response to rising antisemitism, as a Dublin hotel came under scrutiny for cancelling rooms booked for an international antisemitism conference, and a fresh wave of bomb threat hoaxes forced evacuations at Jewish day schools across the United States.

J7 Summit: Diaspora Leaders Unite in the UK Against Antisemitism

The leaders of Jewish communities from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Argentina and Australia convened in the UK under the banner of J7, according to the Jewish Chronicle. The gathering was specifically focused on fighting antisemitism across the Jewish diaspora. No further details about the summit's outcomes or specific commitments were available from the sourced reporting at the time of publication.

The summit coincided with a call from the Yael Foundation at the European Parliament in Brussels, where it urged European lawmakers to invest in Jewish education as a means of combating antisemitism, according to JNS. Separately, JNS reported that the UAE has joined an international antisemitism forum for the first time — a notable diplomatic development as Gulf normalisation with Israel deepens.

In Germany, the ADL congratulated the country's newly appointed antisemitism commissioner, according to JNS, building on the appointment that was first reported in recent days. In the United States, the ADL and Gratz College announced the launch of a joint programme specifically designed to combat antisemitism on university campuses, JNS reported.

Dublin Hotel Cancels Rooms for Antisemitism Envoys

A Dublin hotel cancelled 70 rooms that had been booked for delegates attending an antisemitism conference, in an episode that has drawn sharp criticism. According to JNS, former Irish justice minister Alan Shatter said the Herbert Park Hotel declined the conference after its general manager asked whether the gathering had any connection to the IDF. The Jewish Chronicle separately reported that the hotel's general manager allegedly posed that question before withdrawing the booking. The rooms were subsequently released, according to JNS. The incident has alarmed Jewish community observers, who note the irony of an antisemitism conference being turned away on grounds that appear to conflate opposition to antisemitism with association with Israel's military.

Bomb Threat Hoaxes Target Jewish Day Schools Across the US

Hoax bomb threats were called in to four Jewish day schools in the United States within the past week, resulting in evacuations and at least one lockdown, according to the Forward and JTA. Two threats were called in two minutes apart on 9 October to schools in Brooklyn, New York. The incidents follow earlier bomb threat evacuations at Jewish day schools in Florida and California that were covered in previous reporting. No arrests were immediately reported in the latest incidents.

Manhattan Synagogue Disruption: Arrest Made

A man named Shear Nobles has been arrested and charged with disrupting services at a Sephardic synagogue in Manhattan, according to JNS. Nobles is alleged to have shouted "Allahu Akbar" at worshippers while they were praying. The incident is said to have occurred in July, with the arrest coming months later.

UK: Jailed Soldier, Barghouti Statue, and Pressure on the Greens

In the UK, a British Army chef named Mark Broadhurst was sentenced to 46 months in prison after admitting to possessing explosives and a firearms offence, the Jewish Chronicle reported. Broadhurst was described in court as someone who "hates black, Asian, Muslim and Jewish people" and was found to have constructed a homemade cannon.

Also in London, the Jewish Chronicle reported that a bronze statue of convicted Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti has appeared on the roof of Palestine House. Barghouti is currently imprisoned in Israel following convictions related to attacks that left five civilians dead. The statue depicts him behind bars.

On the political front, the Jewish Chronicle published a strong opinion piece calling on Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and all other parties to shun the Greens, arguing that a party cannot condemn antisemitism in speeches while governing alongside one that has made it policy. The piece described the Greens as having "crossed into racism." This follows ongoing reporting on the controversy surrounding the Green Party's position on antisemitism and inter-party electoral arrangements.

Faber & Faber Drops Sally Rooney Over Palestine Action Ties

UK publisher Faber & Faber has dropped Irish author Sally Rooney, according to JNS, after Rooney vowed to fund Palestine Action — an organisation proscribed as a terrorist group in the United Kingdom. JNS reported that Faber & Faber stated they cannot pay Rooney given her commitment to fund the organisation. The decision is significant in UK publishing and legal terms, as financially supporting a proscribed organisation carries serious criminal implications under British law.

Colombia Opens Embassy in Jerusalem

Colombia has opened an embassy in Jerusalem and restored a trade deal with Israel, the Jewish Chronicle reported. Colombia became the tenth country to establish an embassy in the city. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately hailed what JNS described as a broader revival of Israel's ties with Latin America, following meetings between Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Latin American envoys at the United Nations.

Pennsylvania Moves on IHRA Definition and Jewish Museum

In the United States, bipartisan Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced legislation to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism, JNS reported. Steve Rosenberg of NAVI told JNS: "You can define a fire 1,000 different ways, but if nobody picks up a hose, the building still burns." Separately, Pennsylvania senators swore in a panel to advise Congress on whether the Smithsonian Institution should take over the Philadelphia Jewish museum, with commission chair Philip Darivoff telling JNS: "Too many people in America learn about Jews from people who don't like Jews."

New York: Israel Bonds Broken Promise and Hillel Under Pressure

New York City Comptroller Mark Levine confirmed he will not resume the city's investments in Israel Bonds, breaking a campaign promise made to Jewish voters, according to JTA and the Forward. The decision drew praise from mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, the Forward reported, while drawing criticism from others in the Jewish community.

At the University of Oregon, the Forward reported that pro-Palestinian groups have targeted the director of Oregon Hillel in an escalating campaign that began with a stolen sukkah and progressed to flyers posted around campus branding him "Enemy of the People."

Sandys Row Synagogue Receives Heritage Funding

On a more positive note for UK Jewish heritage, the historic Sandys Row Synagogue in London's East End has received nearly £200,000 in grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Family Charitable Trust, according to the Jewish Chronicle. The synagogue is one of the oldest in the country and the funding will support its preservation.

Sources

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