Belfast Jewish community stops posting details of events online following threat

A threatening antisemitic message and image have been sent to the Jewish community in Belfast, Northern Ireland, via the community’s Facebook page. The community subsequently posted a heartfelt message on Facebook that “Until further notice we cannot put up times, dates and locations of events to do with the Belfast Jewish Community.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has contacted the community about this incident.

Rabbi David Singer, the Rabbi of the Belfast Jewish community, has confirmed to local media that the matter has been reported to police and that is being treated as a hate crime. The community has reported receiving “overwhelming” support from the public following the incident.

A police spokeswoman said that “Police have received a complaint regarding abusive messages posted on social media” and “Enquiries are continuing into the matter.”

In August last year, 13 Jewish graves were damaged in an antisemitic attack at Belfast City Cemetery. No arrests have been made in connection with the vandalism.

Belfast’s Jewish community has been dwindling for a number of years. According to the last census in 2011, only 335 Jews remain in the whole of Northern Ireland.