Dave Rich – författare

October 7, 2023, marked a watershed in Jewish life. The Hamas attack on Israel on that date, and the wars that have raged in the Middle East ever since, brought antisemitism from the fringes of society to the mainstream, making it a daily experience for Jewish people in Britain and around the world. Murderous attacks on Jews and the burning of synagogues became, once again, a feature of Western societies, with old anti-Jewish myths and libels repackaged for a smartphone audience. This rise of anti-Jewish hatred was driven by a fervent hatred of Israel and demonisation of Zionism that go well beyond any legitimate criticisms of the Israeli government, and provide fertile soil for hatred and violence. From Be’eri to Bondi is a collection of articles, essays and talks written by the author throughout the period since that date, providing a real-time account of what this growth in antisemitism looked and sounded like – and how it felt for Jews as their sense of safety and belonging in their own countries started to crumble. It provides not only an explanation for why this happened, but also a programme of action for how to stop this most ancient of hatreds from spreading even further.

October 7, 2023, marked a watershed in Jewish life. The Hamas attack on Israel on that date, and the wars that have raged in the Middle East ever since, brought antisemitism from the fringes of society to the mainstream, making it a daily experience for Jewish people in Britain and around the world. Murderous attacks on Jews and the burning of synagogues became, once again, a feature of Western societies, with old anti-Jewish myths and libels repackaged for a smartphone audience. This rise of anti-Jewish hatred was driven by a fervent hatred of Israel and demonisation of Zionism that go well beyond any legitimate criticisms of the Israeli government, and provide fertile soil for hatred and violence. From Be’eri to Bondi is a collection of articles, essays and talks written by the author throughout the period since that date, providing a real-time account of what this growth in antisemitism looked and sounded like – and how it felt for Jews as their sense of safety and belonging in their own countries started to crumble. It provides not only an explanation for why this happened, but also a programme of action for how to stop this most ancient of hatreds from spreading even further.

New, updated edition of an important and timely critique of Anti-Jewish sentiment on the left. A great deal has happened since the first edition of The Left's Jewish Problem came out in 2016. The Shami Chakrabarti Inquiry into anti-Semitism and other forms of racism in the Labour Party has been published; the grip of Labour's hard left has strengthened; has failed to deal with Ken Livingstone and other offenders and attitudes to Jews and anti-Semitism have become a marker of political difference across national politics. However, while Jeremy Corbyn may have thrown a harsher spotlight on the crisis, it is by no means a recent phenomenon.The widening gulf between British Jews and the anti-Israel left - born out of anti-apartheid campaigns and now allying itself with Islamist extremists who demand Israel's destruction - did not happen overnight or by chance: political activists made it happen. This book reveals who they were, why they chose Palestine and how they sold their cause to the left.Based on new academic research into the origins of this phenomenon, combined with the author's daily work observing political extremism, contemporary hostility to Israel, and anti-Semitism, this book brings new insight to the left's increasingly controversial `Jewish problem'.

Antisemitism is supposed to have disappeared long ago, but despite our abhorrence of racism and oppression in all its forms, this ancient prejudice continues to thrive. Anti-Jewish hate crime is rising, Jewish blood is spilt in Europe once more and arguments over antisemitism, whether in politics or music, theatre or sport, are increasingly hard to avoid. At a time of economic, political and social turmoil, fuelled by conspiracy theories on your smartphone or conflict in the Middle East, antisemitism is back, and we need to know why.It would be tempting to put this down to a handful of extremists, but antisemitism endures at an everyday level in the stereotypes and assumptions about Jews that are woven into the fabric of our world. It is these almost-unnoticed prejudices that perpetuate violent hatred, and until we all understand where they came from, how they are sustained and how they can be challenged, they will continue to do so. Blending personal anecdotes, contemporary examples and historical insights, Everyday Hate takes you on a journey through this contentious and often confusing subject. Spanning Shakespeare to South Park, Israel to Covid-19 and ancient stereotypes to internet memes, it reveals surprising truths about how antisemitism continues to thrive in the interactions, assumptions and views of decent people around the world - and how we can change this for the better.