The publication of a new report, Facing antisemitism: the struggle for safety and solidarity, commissioned by the Runnymede Trust and written by Birkbeck academics, David Feldman, Ben Gidley and Brendan McGeever, forms the basis of this panel discussion. It marks thirty years since the Runnymede Trust’s landmark 1994 report on antisemitism, A Very Light Sleeper.
Particularly since the events of 7 October 2023 and the ongoing violence in Gaza, we have seen a rise in antisemitic incidents, a growing feeling of insecurity among many Jewish people, and a breakdown in consensus over how to conceive and combat antisemitism.
Facing antisemitism, which will be published on 20 January, argues that antisemitism is a stain on UK society, but current responses to tackling antisemitism are not working. The report calls for a new approach to both thinking about and combating antisemitism.
The panel discussion will be followed by a drinks reception.