Topic - Antisemitism

Many groups of people suffer discrimination. For Jewish people this is something that has overshadowed life for centuries, in almost every place  where Jews have lived.

Antisemitism is hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group. It may be as simple as apparently harmless words or images which stereotype or insult Jews, through to acts of hatred and violence. See link below for the widely accepted detail definition of Antisemitism as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

It was the oppression, death and destruction of the Russian Pogroms of 1881-1882 and further pogroms through to the 1920's that led to death of hundreds of Jews and the destruction of thousands of homes, and the migration of 2 million Jews over this period, many to the USA and the UK. The Mayor of Coventry led a citywide response expressing horror and support, and appealing for the government of the day to intervene - See Coventry 1882 Response to Russian Pogroms.

The German Nazi party was explicitly Antisemitic leading to the death of around 6 million Jews in the Holocaust of World War II - just because they were Jews. Read more about The Holocaust from a Coventry perspective here. Read about Coventry's part in rescuing children on the Kinder Transport here. 

Sadly Antisemitism has never been far away: the United Kingdom has a long history of Antisemitism, with Coventry and Warwickshire being no exception.

In medieval times, including in Coventry and Warwickshire, Jews were counted as the property of the King. They and were highly taxed and were prohibited from most professions. Jews were expelled from Warwickshire in 1234, and from the whole of England in 1290.

In the 19th Century Jewish watchmakers suffered severe hardships and persecution in the European countries that they came from. Having arrived in Coventry they were still challenged, for example, in their citizenship rights, and in their careful treatment of those they worked with. Harsh words were spoken against them without cause: Alfred Fridlander stood as a city councillor, but was opposed, being accused of being an alien, until he presented his naturalisation papers. Philip Cohen's business was accused in the local paper of mistreating its workers. 63 of his workers wrote a response the following week upholding the good working conditions and payments that they received. Read more about this in the book Hidden Histories | Coventry Jewish Watchmakers.

Tragically the Holocaust did not bring an end to Antisemitism which still continues to this day with Antisemitic attitudes, words and graffiti still prevalent in Coventry and Warwickshire today.

We each have a vital part to play to overcome all forms of discrimination, including Antisemitism. The more we discover about each other, about those who are different from ourselves, the more we can appreciate them as individuals and as communities that contribute so much to the life of our City.

See these Links for further information:

• International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of Antisemitism at the Link.
  This includes the words: "Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities."

• Coventry City of Peace and Reconciliation Sculpture

• See pages on this site for further links about Kinder Transport and The Holocaust