Catholic charity helps break the silence over UK anti-semitism

Responding to an urgent call from the Chief Rabbi, a Catholic charity has spoken out against attacks on British Jews.  

There has been outrage across the UK after two Jewish men – 76-year-old Moshe Shine and 34-year-old Shloime Rand – were stabbed in Golders Green, north London.  

Dr Caroline Hull, national director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK), stressed the charity’s condemnation of all violent attacks on the country’s Jewish community.

Dr Hull said: “All of us at ACN offer prayers for – and good wishes to – the two men who were stabbed in Golders Green on Wednesday.  

“Noting the Chief Rabbi’s call for the whole of society to speak up loudly and stand together, ACN joins its voice to those who refuse to be silent in the face of hatred towards religious groups.”

The charity’s announcement followed Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis’ statement that the “silent majority in the UK [must] raise their voices” against anti-semitism.

He said: “The silent majority needs to stop being silent – we need to hear their voices.”

Both assaults in Golders Green on Wednesday (29th April) which occurred in the street, in broad daylight, are only the latest attacks on the Jewish community in London.

Earlier in April two people wearing balaclavas lobbed a brick and bottles believed to contain petrol at Finchley Reform Synagogue.

Other incidents last month include arson attacks on a Jewish-owned shop in Watford and a property connected with educational charity Jewish Futures in Hendon.

Aid to the Church in Need’s 2025 Religious Freedom in the World report found a significant rise in violence against Jewish people in the UK coincided with the start of the current conflicts in the Holy Land.

The report – which seeks to examine the condition of all religious groups in every country – noted that a third of all religiously motivated hate crimes during the period under review targeted members of the Jewish faith.

Golders Green knife-attack victim Shloime Rand, who was discharged from hospital last night, said his survival was a “miracle”.  

Mr Rand, who was stabbed in the chest, added: “I feel like God’s given me back my life.”

Moshe Shine, who received more serious injuries, including a stab wound to the neck, remains in hospital. His condition is described as stable.

Earlier today (Friday, 1st May) Essa Suleiman, 45, appeared in court charged with attempted murder for the attacks on the two Jewish men. He was also accused of trying to murder another man, Ishmail Hussein.