Sir Isaac Newton and Judaism
7 min read
4 min read
A two-tier system where one tier accommodates preferred prejudices and the other crushes dissent spells the end of a once-great global democracy.
Britain is dying. Not through conquest or catastrophe, but through the quiet collapse of the principles that made it a beacon of justice and equality under law. What remains is a hollow shell where rights depend not on citizenship but on ideology, truth is negotiable and enforcement selective.
The evidence is on full display in decisions so brazen they suggest authorities no longer fear accountability.
West Midlands Police fabricated intelligence to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a match against Aston Villa. British police claimed they had spoken to Amsterdam police following the Islamist-organized pogrom where scores of Israelis were hunted down and beaten. If senior UK officers did speak to their Dutch counterparts, they apparently heard the exact opposite of what was said. Dutch police made clear the Israeli fans were targets of violence, not instigators. Yet West Midlands Police constructed an entirely different narrative to justify excluding Israeli supporters from a football match, pressured by Islamist Members of Parliament.
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud, who joined calls at an anti-Israel protest to “globalize the intifada,” knew the intelligence was falsified and has similarly played dumb.
The lies reveal institutional willingness to manipulate facts for ideologically preferred outcomes. Israeli football supporters were deemed worthy of exclusion through whatever means necessary.
A sitting MP was barred from a public school because staff might be upset by a Jewish politician.
Then there's Damian Egan, a British-Jewish MP prevented by the National Education Union and Palestine Solidarity Campaign from visiting a primary school in his own constituency. His presence might "inflame teachers," they said. A sitting MP was barred from a public school because staff might be upset by a Jewish politician. Britain now accommodates religious prejudice against Jews in public institutions while protecting those who harbor it.
British punk duo Bob Vylan led crowds at Glastonbury in chanting "Death to IDF" during a 45-minute BBC broadcast watched by millions during the summer. The evidence was captured in high definition, broadcast on the national network, available for endless replay. The Crown Prosecution Service concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.
Meanwhile, British citizens serve lengthy prison sentences for social media posts. People go to jail for criticizing immigration policy. Police conduct early morning raids over tweets someone found offensive. Men and women lose years with their families, emerge with criminal records, their lives destroyed for words typed in anger or frustration.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy celebrated the return of Egyptian-British antisemite Alaa Abd-el Fattah, who has called for the murder of Jews wherever they are and in great numbers. The government declared his release one of its "top priorities."
Authorities lie to exclude Jews from football matches, refuse to prosecute televised calls for death against Israeli soldiers, celebrate the release of someone who advocates killing Jews, yet imprison citizens for controversial tweets
Authorities lie to exclude Jews from football matches, refuse to prosecute televised calls for death against Israeli soldiers, celebrate the release of someone who advocates killing Jews, yet imprison citizens for controversial tweets. One tier protects approved grievances and accommodates preferred prejudices. The other crushes dissent and enforces ideological conformity.
British institutions sort citizens into categories. Some deserve protection, others deserve punishment, based not on actions but on alignment with fashionable causes. Anti-Israel sentiment receives institutional accommodation. Challenge immigration policy or express views outside acceptable parameters and you face the full weight of state power.
Law-abiding Britons must self-censor ruthlessly while watching others voice extreme positions with impunity. Jewish citizens see their elected representative barred from schools while calls for death against Jewish soldiers go unprosecuted. The evidence is overwhelming: the system no longer operates fairly.
Britain once stood for equal treatment under law, justice blind to status and ideology, and rights that belonged to citizens by virtue of citizenship, not political favor. These operational realities made Britain a model for the world.
That Britain is gone. What remains is a cautionary tale of how quickly a democracy can hollow out from within.
UK subjects deserve better. Perhaps they require strong words of support from their king, though it would mean speaking out against a community he lionizes. They deserve a justice system that applies the same standards to everyone. They deserve prosecutors who enforce the law consistently. They deserve actual justice, not a two-tier system that protects the favored while crushing largely unprotected others.
Until that changes, faith in British justice will continue its dangerous decline.
Same with USA
My son works in UK. He doesn’t dress in an obviously Jewish way (such as beard, payess, kipah.) His colleagues know he is Jewish and have never given him any grief about that. I went to shul when I visited him over the summer and felt completely safe.
We are aware of antisemitic crimes, and they should be called out. However, I think this piece is overly pessimistic.
I'm very happy for you and your son, your experience is how it should be. But, I can tell you, as a foreign woman from London and not a Jew, this is not pessimistic, this is pure reality. I see double standards on every step and I can only imagine how difficult it is for your community. Ordinary people are lovely of course, but system is changing beyond all expectations.
You’ve no notion of how war is fought or why Israel used the very standard tactics that it did.
Trump is actively considering a blanket invitation to all Jews in Britain to come to the US under a refugee status program. This is happening right now. Presumably, the author knows this and is part of that effort. I also assume it’s mostly for political effect to pressure Starmer.
I have 17 relatives in the UK. None plan to leave, but let’s see if Starmer gets the message or if the Jews of America give Trump any credit at all for trying to help.
the 1965 Immigration Reform Act was a disaster.
I’m not sure how your comment is connected to mine, but you happen to be correct about Qatari asset Trump.
The British people and their king,not " government" , are responsible for whatever ails the UK and its future. The UK is STILL a democracy. Whilst there is time, they can form new parties and elect a cleaner government. Like Hamas was picked by Gazans, Labor was picked by the Brits ." Choose life" means also to choose the life of their democracy, and eventually, even their physical lives. There are too many Muslims in Britain who commit violent despicable acts. Immigration control is a must. Deportations as well.
Two scenarios:
1. The UK will keep choosing disastrous governments and not reproducing ,as is already the case, and become Islamic. There will be war with Israel as Islam will control nukes.
2.The UK will be seized by a right extreme coup-d'Etat and become totalitarian.
The British people have a centuries history of befriending members of Islam. If you go back to the time of Elizabeth I when the church declared England's protestants outsiders. England had representatives reaching out to the vast Ottoman Empire to build trade alliances against the common enemy Spain-since they did not need England's Wool England sold ammunition. It was during this time period that the foundation of an alliance and acceptance was brought into being. I encourage readers to go back to your history books or go to the podcast folder entitled "Not Just the Tudors" and listen to a very enlightening podcast on this subject entitled "The Elizabethans and Islam". Read about the real Lawrence of Arabia or Gertrude Bell.
Henry VIII declared himself of the Church of England, thus outlawing the RC Church. His daughter, Elizabeth I, continued that policy. I don’t understand what you mean when you say that Elizabeth I “declared England’s Protestants outsiders.”
There would have been less destruction had Hamas not used so many civilian structures for military purposes and also had not booby-trapped those structures to explode when demilitarized.
Bibi didn’t start the war and it is the Islamic “messianic” elements which require reassessment.
Perhaps you didn’t notice but each hostage release happened only after Hamas/Gaza sustained enough damage to weaken and need to regroup.
I lived in Iran (my dad was from there) for 4 years. This was the goal of the Ayatollah. Spread Islam and the destruction of the Judeo-Christian world by any means possible. Britain is gone, and even its citizens are blind to the decline. It is spreading in the U.S. as well. Who in the hell thought 24 years after 9/11 the people of NY would elect a mayor who is a Jihadist and whose sympathies lie not with the victims, but with the terrorists who flew the planes into the World Trade Center?
Actually, two people from Britain saw this one is called Douglas Murray and the second one is Melanie Phillips she wrote a book called " The Builder's Stone " both are saying what you are saying, but will anyone listen to them, the only people that are trying to stand up to them are Jews and Israel, so non Jews should also stand up with Jews and Israel to take back western values and also Judeo- Christian values before it is to late
The Brits are unique for several reasons:
1. they gave the world great rock bands;
2. they givevthe world continuous antisemitism and antizionism;
3. all the wrongs discussed in this article.
Points 2 and 3 are not unique, they are seen in most if not all of Europe, Canada, Australia.
Rock bands? That’s your idea of something important? What about trial by jury, some freedom of speech, and Shakespeare?
With all due respect to your opinion, it resembles antisemitic and deceitful rhetoric about genocide. Your idea would be very good if Hamas weren't on the other side, murdering and committing atrocities. Be careful about the sources of information you use.
Pathetic!
As an Englishwoman living in the UK I know that most British people are not antisemitic. BUT - our politicians have lost their moral sense of direction. There are now more than 3 million Muslim voters and fewer than 300,000 Jews. The politicians want the Muslim vote, and they therefore do nothing to clamp down on grooming gangs, Muslim extremists, "Palestinian" marches and so on. This creates a climate of fear where extremists thrive and moderates have to censor their views on social media. Anti-Israel attitudes are fed by our amoral media, especially the BBC and The Guardian. Very sad.
Yes Elizabeth. Very sad and very true.
The problem is Muslims took over Europe, there was a incident in Australia on the first night of Chanukah, in New York we have a Muslim mayor, it looks like the Muslims are taking over the world, and want everyone to become Muslims, the Muslims have the same goal like the Nazis( Y"S) to make the world and Israel " Judenrein " ( free of Jews), like in the past when you start up with Jews/ Israel then everyone else will be targeted too, Jews are like canary in the coalmine, if the canary is in trouble then everyone else will follow, by these countries falling then western values and Judeo- Christian values are in trouble, the Muslim invasion in the long run doesn't only affect/ effect Jews, everyone else will have the problem too
Media creates tunnel vision, and the worst version scenario; making all the bad news seem to overwhelm any good.
It actually helps the very negative forces humanity is fighting against.
People from Europe and visiting Europe can acknowledge the spread of misinformation by unauthorized persons pushing prohibitted beliefs on the rest of humanity, but those countries and people continue to live basically ordinary lives.
There is society; then, there are pockets of dysfunctionality, within that society.
It is important not to overgrandize, and therefore empower those negative societal influences.
Read not much news.
Sounds like you're a proponent of "ignorance is bliss," which has proven itself dangerous. Your mention of people continuing "to live basically normal lives" is reminiscent of Europeans turning a blind eye to the Nazi's atrocities in their virtual backyards.
While it's true that media hype can be encouraged by the sheer numbers of fools who fall for it, not doing anything to protest the flagrant lies, distortions, etc. also contributes to their cause!
At the least, we need to try to dispel the myths that feed antisemitism by showing why they're untrue.
Thank you, you are so right!
What a crock of disinformation, trolling and rage baiting. The UK is no worse than any other Western Democracy and the author chooses to highlights the extreme exceptions to the actual reality of British Jews. Honestly, it's disgusting.
Get real!
What you’re actually saying is that the whole world is in trouble, not just UK.
The danger is real when British citizens are arrested for saying the “wrong” things on social media but thieves are let to steal with impunity.
Is anything that was written factually incorrect? If I was originally from France or some other Western Democracy, I could have written a similar account, but I'm not, so I didn't.
I left the country because already in 2006/7 I could see the writing on the wall. That's my experience. You're entitled to your opinion, but it's not a crock of disinformation... not least because I'm not trying to change anyone's behaviour by publishing outright lies.
Do you live in the UK ? If so you should know what is going on.
There is no disinformation, trolling and rage baiting, all this is real, get a grip.
That the UAE does not fund students to study in the UK due to the risk of Islamic extremism in that "democracy" is ironic. Is the UAE Islamophobic? England is on a path of self-destruction that ends in colonization by Islamism, which is the explicit goal of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Red-Green Alliance.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/uae-said-to-slash-scholarships-to-study-in-uk-citing-fear-of-muslim-brotherhood/
Decades ago, I didn't LEAVE Britain so much as COME TO Israel. That said,I felt we were growing up in the 1970s in a kind of Golden Age on a timer (similarly, visiting New York in 1979, meeting Jews who felt much more at home than British Jews,I felt it was an illusion and would blow up - metaphorically- one day).
By the late 70s, British universities had been infiltrated by Arab students sent expressly to promote a hate narrative towards Israel and Jews. This investment of 50 years has paid off. Even then, the extreme right NF and extreme left SWP joined hands at universities to undermine and harass Jewish societies.
Hatred of Jews was lurking in the shadows waiting for its moment to shine. Maybe not most Brits - but silent majorities are ultimately of no use to Jews
Hatred for Jews has been in existence from as early as the 14th century in the UK and has never changed even though we were allowed to return. The atrocious rejection and return of concentration camp victims by the British regime (in particularly Ernest Bevan) highlights this fact. Twas ever thus and we must always remember "we are on our own". The fact that this is a relentless never ending topical issue regarding Jews (and no other group being continually highlighted) at the forefront of everyday news and events shows this to be true.
Excellent & irrefutable point (your last one)!
What's happened to Aish HaTorah? It seems only to have turned into Aish, which can be a very dangerous thing! What good do your distorted observations do? True the British are week now and don't know how to deal with the growing Muslim community some of which is anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish, we lack a Donald Trump here, but he's no saint either and what's he trying to do anyway? Make America Great Again, as it lost its way, way back! Let's not fool ourselves all cultures suffer from moral relativism only Torah values are true and everlasting, but even within the Torah world there are 'cultural distortions,' ways of life that aren't true - fitting in with the crowd with distorted outlooks and nonsensical beliefs. We search for truth and avoid sensationalism, which sums up this article.
While it's true that there's a global crisis concerning moral relativism, the UK has the "honor" of being a (supposedly) democratic country leading the descent.
This is quite clearly a case of Esav joining forces with Yishmael—a rather unholy alliance that will eventually lead to their downfall, which they well deserve
Sensationalism? Distorted observations? Hardly. The information in this article smacks hard because it is the truth. You mention the British are weak now and don't know how to deal with the growing Muslim community, "some of which is anti-Israel and anti-Jewish." 65% isn't "some". 80% believe Israel is a "racist endeavor." That's not exactly "some". Yes, Torah values are true and everlasting. There are increasing numbers of countries and certain cities within those countries that have a warning to either be careful or don't visit.
Unfortunately, London is one such city. I used to want to visit England. Now? No. I believe Hashem is exhorting us to come home...
Britain is in the deepest trouble and can’t find its way out. You’re a frightened appeaser looking for any way out of your fear that you can.
England fell fast. My friends will no longer vacation there. Muslims have taken over. Shame but they let the snakes into the country.
The snakes originated in Saudi Arabia and the Levant, near the State of Israel. They entered Britain through scholarship programs, carrying venom (in their heads). The name of the venom is: hatred for any Jew or Israeli anywhere in the world, at any time, and so on...Please believe me, I live in the Arabian Gulf now and I know how people think here.
Thank you for your thoughtful article. Seems to me that you could just change one word in your title and resubmit: The Fall of the United States. No - antisemitic acts here do not seem to be orchestrated by the current corrupt government. But the clear absence of the rule of law and lawful protections are missing every day, against immigrants of color, against any 'enemy' (read: not in agreement) of the administration, of unlawful violence and imprisonment, and the fear of daring to voice an opinion (social media or otherwise) that is not 'approved'. I can only think: Ik'va d'Mashicha (the footsteps preceding the coming of Mashiacha). It is truly so sad to see the death of these once great democracies where great ideals seem to be scattering like chaf in winds of greed and self-interest.
Your assessment is not quite accurate: For example, legal immigrants of color who are law abiding are not the ones being targeted. Omitting such an important detail falsifies the picture!
Precisely. I agree.
There are so many lies surrounding the so-called "worst of the worst" campaign that I wish there was more attention to it.
While it is true that a number of people with criminal records and who were in the USA without legal status have been deported, it isn't the case that hardened criminals are the target of the SWAT teams on the streets.
If you were to fact-check the "worst of the worst" list, you would find that serious criminals that were already in prison had to be released from prison so that they could be deported. They were not on the streets.
You would also find people who had been convicted of crimes while in the USA legally and who had served their sentences. They had lost their legal status and were arrested while trying to restore their status... not a threat.
My Hispanic nieces and nephews are stopped frequently, not for wrongdoing but because they look “suspicious”. None has ever been charged with a crime. And if you are frequently late to work, picking up your kids from daycare, feeling unsafe at night, it matters.
I think you are greatly delusional in thinking that the UK was ever anything but what it is right now. The Brits were always anti semites and apart from small periods of Jewish "acceptance" and "tolerance," have always dealt with Jews like invaders. Then again, the Brits have always dealt with anyone that wasn't British as invaders. Don't be fooled by their calm and carry on demeanor - it hides cold lack of empathy. It is only recently that, somehow, the Muslims have became favored in Britain as outsiders, and only because the Brits, usually not wanting to engage in confrontation until the lion is at the door (and only when someone like Churchill finally slaps them on the back of the head), would rather just let these people run wild than enforce the laws against a lawless segment
I am a practising community Rabbi in Manchester
I wish to state that I do not recognise the narrative above described.
Britain is a medina shel chessed, a country of kindness, and in our thriving Kehilla of Manchester we are supported by all the local and governmental authorities
Following the Heaton Park Attack on Yom Kippur (1 mile from my shul) we received outstanding support from the Non Jewish community and The Government local and national and The King visited the area
I am a proud British Jew,My late father zl served for 6 years in The RAF in World War II and also passionately recognised the democratic and tolerant values of our country which remain substantially intact,
My grandfather also served in WWII – and was also an editor at the NYT in London for what it's worth – another fallen institution. The op-ed was intended to suggest that the UK I grew up in, no longer exists – and while the Manchester Jewish community was supported post-Yom Kippur attack, the fact it happened after all is a searing indictment of where the country is IMO.
My son lives in Edinburgh. While he doesn’t “look Jewish”— he doesn’t typically wear a kippah nor a dark suit— he has not been exposed to antisemitism at all, from neighbors nor colleagues.we are modern orthodox
Why do you write the king with a capital letter?
When referring to a specific individual, a tile is capitalized: the King, the President, the Chief Rabbi, etc.
What’s transitory is the demographic existence of Jewry in Britain, save for some datiim. The native Brit’s are also in steep demographic decline. Islam is growing in numbers and power neither of which will be kind to you or native Brit’s.
Unfortunately the cited examples are just “The Tip of the Iceberg…” Let us not forget
1). “The Grooming Gangs” which, for decades, targeted and committed horrific crimes against children. Those in power not only refused to prosecute the individuals who had committed these unspeakable acts, but British leaders ignored the outraged cries of parents and refused to protect their citizens… 2). The arrest and prosecution of individuals for (essentially) “Thought Crimes”’ in response to their silently praying near British Abortion Clinics…. Not only is Great Britain slipping into the abyss, but the entire European Continent is floundering, putting all of Western Civilization at risk.
Please do not judge all UK citizens by the actions of our current elected politicians
The UK contains many people who stand with Israel and who love Ha Shem, the G-d of Abraham Isaac and Jacob
Yea, but these citizens are powerless and will soon be criminalized.
That's gratifying to hear, but since "actions speak louder than words," this does not mean much; unless there's unified protest (not single voices on social media), the UK will continue to self-destruct—and it serves them right for always favoring Arabs over Jews.
Now that they've got their beloved terrorists in their midst, let them enjoy it!
Just hope Jewish Brits will wake up before it's too late, as waiting for a better government never boded well for us, overall.
The UK has many wonderful people. However, no one can deny that within 20 years Britain will be a Muslim country governed by sharia law. Every British Jew I know is making plans to leave or for their children to leave. They see no future.
The French Jews already made Aliyah, the British Jews might go to Israel next
The majority of non-Jews in liberal Western democracies have no more interest in living in an Islamic state than do
Jews.
All this is not new. Many years ago there was the Balfour declaration of the then British cabinet. It was adopted as a goal of the League of Nations, predecessor of today's United Nations (not so united any more or perhaps united in their distain for the State of Israel).
Of course the British government was more interested in Mid East oil than anything else, especially supporting the Jews' wish to be a free people in their own home land.
I agree with your sad analysis of the decline of the UK. I can only add that this has been going on since at least the 1930s with that infamous vote by students at Cambridge University that they were unwilling to fight for king and country. I do not think that so many politicians are antisemitic, but they want to get re-elected. They see that 0.4% of the British electorate are Jewish, and 7% are Muslim. Whose votes are most valuable to them/ If the figures were reversed, they would be singing Hatikvah in Parliament. The universal suffrage that Britons gave up their lives to win is now being used to undermine the liberties their ancestors died for 200 years ago.