As we gather with family and friends for our seder nights, there will be many who reflect upon the story of the Haggadah and find meaning for the current day. At CST, we are dealing every day with the security of the Jewish community and with antisemitism. So, for many of our staff and volunteers, when we sit around our seder tables and discuss Pesach, it will be hard to forget that it has been a busy year. The number of antisemitic incidents reported to CST has never been higher. Similarly, we have all seen antisemitism in the news far too often, and the Government and UK security services keep reminding us that the threat of terrorism has never been higher. So, how do we make sense of this at Pesach? Every Jew and every family will have their own opinions and their own conversations, but I hope that when we think about oppression, that we also think about freedom: just as in the Haggadah. For us, that includes being able to lead our Jewish lives in ways that previous generations of Jews would surely envy.
At CST, our job is to keep our community safe and secure, so as we can all enjoy our freedoms. We can only do this with your support. If someone at your seder is a CST volunteer, thank them for what they do on behalf of us all. If you see antisemitism, please report it to CST. If you worry about antisemitism, then think about the freedoms and opportunities we all enjoy today. Then, do something positive by joining CST, donating to CST, or assisting in another part of our successful British Jewish life. Finally, may I wish you, your family and friends a Good Yom Tov this Pesach.
David S Delew MBA, CST Chief Executive
CST teams work in every Jewish community. To join us, or donate, or report antisemitism, please see our website www.cst.org.uk, or call us on 020 8457 9999, or 0161 792 6666.