Jewish Green leader considers quitting, as Rabbi urges voters to reject Polanski
Vivien Lichtenstein, who leads the Jewish Greens, says she may leave the party after it voted to equate Zionism with racism and support a single Palestinian state. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Lichtenstein said she wasn’t concerned about people accusing her of racism because she supported Israel’s right to exist, but she was worried that UK organisations, Jewish organisations, Israeli-Jewish and joint Arab-Jewish organisations, could be accused of this, despite their assistance to Palestinians on the ground. It’s reported there is anger in the party over Zack Polanski’s decision to miss the vote and instead campaign in his bid to win Holborn and St Pancras in this week’s by-election. Rabbi Jonathan Romain, writing in The Jewish Chronicle, is urging voters “to vote for anyone but the Polanski Green Party” warning of a resurgence of antisemitism.
Polanksi insists everyone must feel ‘safe and welcome’ in his party
Last night, the Green party leader Zack Polanski issued a statement on the conference motion, saying: “Antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state are, and must always be, completely distinct – blurring the line between the two is not only wrong but antisemitic, and makes Jewish people less safe”. He said the Green Party will not accept any exclusion of people based on religion, and he wanted everyone to feel “safe and welcome” in his party. A movement for justice must, he said, “protect both the rights of Palestinians and our Jewish communities”.
Chief Rabbi ‘appalled’ at Green party’s decision that zionism is racism
The Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, says he is appalled that the Green Party passed its ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion. In a statement he said: “It was the Soviet Union which first promoted the dangerous lie that Zionism is racism. The UN adopted it but was then shamed into revoking it. Those in the Green Party and beyond who resurrect this discredited and dangerous slander should not imagine that history will judge them kindly. All decent people will see this for what it is: poisonous antisemitism, a threat to British Jews and to Britain.”
British Jews ‘more likely to identify as Zionist since 7 October’
Research by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research suggests that the proportion of British Jews identifying as Zionist rose from 59 per cent in 2022 to 66 per cent in 2025. Half of those surveyed describe antisemitism in Britain as a “very big problem”, a dramatic rise from 17 per cent in May 2023. The report “October 8 Jews: the impact of October 7 on British Jewish identity” is based on findings after tracking the same group of 2,500 adult British Jews across six surveys from 2020 to 2025. It also found that emotional attachment to Israel strengthened substantially and remained elevated, rising from 38 per cent in May 2023 to 51 per cent in June 2025. “Supporting Israel” rose from 35 per cent before October 7 to 48 per cent nine months later, a rise which has been maintained. It also found a significant decline in feelings of safety, a rise in levels of anxiety, and in increase in numbers migrating to Israel. Report is here.
Pope Leo revisits controversial teaching on divorced Catholics
Pope Leo is bringing together senior leaders to Rome for a week-long conference to discuss the impact of Pope Francis’ teaching on outreach to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics. Ten years ago, Pope Francis published a document “The Joy of Love” which suggested that some divorced and remarried Catholics could receive Communion following spiritual discernment, without a universal change in Church teaching. There was strong opposition from conservatives. The National Catholic Reporter says that the Vatican stresses the document will not be re-written or abandoned at the conference, but will discuss how the changes have been implemented.
Council approves security measures at Ahmadiyya complex near Farnham
Security measures installed at the Ahmadiyya Muslim community’s headquarters in Tilford near Farnham, Surrey, have been granted retrospective planning permission. The community is based in the grounds of a former boarding school which it bought in 1984,and named the site ‘Islamabad’. It has a mosque and housing for members, and is the home of His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the worldwide spiritual and administrative head of the community, who moved to the UK because of persecution in Pakistan. Waverley Borough Council approved security kiosks, a control centre and new access roads at the Islamabad site after being told they were installed in response to specific threats. Confidential security reports were seen by council officers, who said the measures were necessary to protect the public and occupants. Some residents objected to the development, citing its impact on the Green Belt and the fact that work began without permission. Councillors said the community faced unprecedented threats and that the security measures were justified.
St Giles Cathedral charges £12 entry fee for the first time in 900 year history
St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, which dates back 900 years, has for the first time set a fee for visitors from outside Scotland.General admission is £12, but Scottish residents and under-16s can enter for free, so long as they provide proof of residence. The Cathedral welcomes 1.5 million visitors a year and its annual operational costs are more than £1million. A spokesperson said they need funds from the entry charge to ensure the cathedral can continue as a visitor attraction, religious site and cultural centre, as well as provide more cash for music in services and for concerts. There has been a church on the site since 1124, but the present building originates in the 14th century, John Knox was its minister in 1560 and it is used now for worship and civic occasions.
Archbishop opens up on how dyslexia has shaped her life
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has given an interview to the Church Times, on how her dyslexia has shaped her life. She said she was diagnosed at the age of 16 when taking her O-levels, after difficulty spelling and “terrible handwriting”. Yet she persevered and qualified as a nurse. Now she has ways of mitigating her challenges, for example getting the spacing of text right in sermon notes and using her favourite typeface, Mangal. She gave the interview to mark Dyslexia Awareness Week, 5 – 11 October, and she had come to see her dyslexia as part of being “made in the image of God” , urging the church to see different ways of thinking as a gift. Podcast interview with Amelia Braddick and article here >>
