Written on 11 December and sent to The Jewish Chronicle in response to the article “Lanterns adorn night sky in Brighton to express solidarity with the hostages”*
This letter has not been published
“Like the over 100 attendees of the Brighton event calling for the release of hostages (Dec 3rd, “Lanterns adorn night sky…”), I’ve joined Brighton vigils in support of hostages’ freedom. However, as these events also advocated for a Gaza ceasefire, I and others faced harassment from community members waving Israeli flags, using megaphones to taunt us, and filming aggressively.
Like Adam Ma’anit the events of October 7th deeply affected my family, too. My brother-in-law’s nephew, Nehorai Sa’id, was killed by Hamas while protecting his family. Yet my efforts to foster dialogue with Brighton’s mainstream Jewish community have been obstructed. At the election hustings held at Brighton & Hove’s new Jewish community center—self-described as “forward-thinking & for all”—I and colleagues were labeled “disgusting” and “traitors,” and filmed once again.
The Rabbi of Brighton’s Reform synagogue later accused me, falsely, of racism and child abuse in Sussex Jewish News(SJN). My actual remark, “B’hatzlacha” (“good luck”), was misrepresented. When I sought to clarify with him and then via SJN, my rebuttal was initially accepted but later rejected without explanation. Other peace-advocating Jews have similarly had their contributions blocked.
If a non-Jewish publication made such accusations against a Jew while denying them a response, it would be deemed antisemitic and unethical. Brighton, celebrated for its openness, has a Jewish community that is intolerant of Jews advocating for peace or questioning Israel’s actions post-October 7th. Such voices are silenced, ridiculed, and ostracised.
I stand in solidarity with hostages, Palestinian prisoners, and grieving families on all sides. I call on our community to foster respectful, inclusive dialogue where all voices are heard.”
*https://www.thejc.com/community/lanterns-adorn-night-sky-in-brighton-to-express-solidarity-with-the-hostages-g3sfvazy
