It has been increasingly hard to miss the gradual rise in anti-semitism in recent years, both as a problem affecting Britain’s Jewish community, and as a subject for public discussion and much disagreement. Periodic rises in anti-semitic hate crimes, often at times when Israel is embroiled in another round of fighting in Gaza or Lebanon, have increased fears that an old prejudice has returned. However, the claims and counter-claims about a link between anti-semitism and anti-Zionism often obstruct a clear understanding of the problem and how to combat it. Two reports issued this week by the Jewish anti-racist charity CST should add some much-needed urgency to this work.

The first report, Anti-semitic Incidents January-June 2009, shows an unprecedented rise in anti-semitic incidents in the first half of this year. CST, which has been recording anti-semitic incidents since 1984, recorded over 600 anti-semitic incidents in the first half of 2009, more than in any previous entire year. To put this into context, in the first half of 2009 there was one anti-semitic attack for every 500 Jews in Britain. Much of this focused on responses to the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza earlier this year. It reveals an anti-semitic politics, fuelled by anger about Israel, but which finds its targets amongst British Jews.

The second report, CST’s Anti-semitic Discourse report 2008, unpicks some of the examples of anti-semitic language and stereotypes that emerged in mainstream public discourse during last year. It looks at how some reporting of Jews and Jewish-related stories can lapse into easy stereotypes about Jews and money, or power, or conspiracies, often without realising the echoes of ancient anti-semitism that such ideas can generate.

To help fight these challenges, CST encourages inter-faith and cross-political alliances wherever possible. We helped build the community’s anti-BNP campaign, and play a leading role in the task force that co-ordinates government, policing and judicial responses to anti-semitism, including upon campus.

It is vital to maintain a sense of proportion. Anti-semitism does not define the British Jewish experience and Britain is a good place to be Jewish. Our community is, generally speaking, well integrated, highly educated, relatively prosperous and Jewish life is flourishing in many different ways. However, there are very real and intensifying challenges, but it is as foolish to imagine anti-semitism everywhere, as it is to deny its existence. Better therefore, to contextualise the problem and to fight it appropriately.

The rise in anti-semitic incidents in particular will cause alarm in the Jewish community, and should worry all who want to build a cohesive society. As a movement the left (of all shades) has a responsibility to tackle this and any form of racism and injustice head on. I would therefore urge you to have a look at both reports, which can be found via the CST’s website or the CST blog.