Young Jews tell their refugee peers: ‘we are here for you’

As violence started to spread around the UK last weekend, our Deputy Director Amos Schonfield was in rural England, joining Reform Jewish youth movement RSY-Netzer at their pre-summer camp.

The camp’s leaders have a fierce commitment to diversity, inclusion, and welcome. And so when news came in about the far-right unrest, they organised activities for the children (aged 11-15) to write messages of support to our young people on JUMP.

These messages might not hit the headlines like the thousands of anti-racist protesters across the country, or the supportive messages from Jewish community leaders. But they speak directly to our young people and to all of us who support them.

When the far-right try to burn down hotels housing asylum seekers, assault minorities on the street, and mobs attack mosques, the end result is terror and fear for so many people around the country – including our young people on JUMP. Incredible acts of solidarity like these are such an important reminder that the far-right’s thuggery is no representation of our country, or match for our shared compassion.

RSY-Netzer Movement Worker Jack Frohlich said: “We spoke about what has been happening and the different ways of being an ally to minority groups, as a minority group ourselves. We ended the sessions by writing notes of support to asylum seekers and refugees in a time where they are being specifically targeted.”

Click through below to see some of these heartwarming messages.