Last November, I had a truly extraordinary experience. Ι was invited to London, spoke at JW3 — the city’s main Jewish cultural and community centre — met members of the community, and had the honour of being the guest at the Melaveh Malkah dinner of a small, however very vibrant and diverse community Kesher Kehilah, hosted by a local Jewish Family in Golders Green.

It had been years since I had seen people so closely knit, so deeply bound to one another, and so instinctively compassionate. So profoundly warm.

Yesterday morning, I read, with dismay, the news that four of the community’s ambulances were set alight last night.

What happened was not unexpected. They had been bracing for it because this is the reality they live in every single day, and have for a long time, much like all Jewish communities across the diaspora.

Their synagogues are often concealed within houses so that........

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