British Jewish leaders condemn Trump rhetoric ahead of visit

Ahead of Donald Trump’s planned visit to Britain, leaders of that country’s Jewish community condemn what they say is the Republican presidential nominee’s “divisive and troubling” rhetoric.

Trump is coming to Britain for the opening of a new hotel he owns in Scotland.

Jonathan Arkush, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, says Trump’s “recent comments” on the Mexican heritage of a federal judge “have been divisive and troubling,” the London-based Jewish News reports. “The world has long looked to the United States as a beacon of progress, tolerance and free thinking. Some of Mr. Trump’s remarks undermine these values.”

Trump, Arkush adds, “has not moved decisively enough to distance himself from extremist supporters” and “should now be considering the far-reaching consequences of his remarks and policy proposals before more damage is done.”

Laura Janner-Klausner, a well-known Reform rabbi, calls Trump’s statements “naked appeals to bigotry.” British Jews, she says, “strongly support American liberal Jews in challenging Donald Trump and stand in solidarity with our sister movement the Union for Reform Judaism” on this issue.

The chief executive of Britain’s Liberal Judaism association, Rabbi Danny Rich, tells The Jewish News: “I fear that some of Donald Trump’s rhetoric is part of a growing intolerance, and inability to discuss things rationally, that we are currently seeing in political debate all around the world.”

In New York last month, a 500-strong alliance of liberal Jews announced that they would be campaigning against Trump throughout the summer and autumn months.

— JTA