London has launched a new public bus service connecting two areas with significant Jewish populations, Golders Green and Stamford Hill, in response to a surge in anti-Semitic incidents.
The new service, which began this week, provides a direct link between the two areas, eliminating the need for passengers to change buses.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated that he was moved by the fear expressed by Jewish individuals who had experienced abuse while changing buses. “I was told stories by families who, where they changed buses from Stamford Hill to Golders Green at Finsbury Park, were frightened about the abuse they had received,” he said.
The London Jewish Forum co-chairs, Andrew Gilbert and Adrian Cohen, welcomed the new service, saying, “In a period where our community is encountering unprecedented anti-Semitism, any measure that bolsters the confidence of Jewish individuals in using public transport is immensely valued.”
According to Khan, the Jewish community had been advocating for a direct transport link for 16 years. He attributed the recent increase in anti-Semitism to the October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which has left the Jewish community “frightened.”
Passengers using the new service expressed relief and convenience. One woman, traveling with her four-year-old son, said, “I feel safer and it’s very convenient.” Another passenger, Jochanan, 70, who previously took taxis to avoid the area where buses were changed, said he was “very concerned” about the current situation in London.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a Jewish charity that monitors anti-Semitism in Britain, reported a record 1,978 incidents from January to June, a 105% increase from the same period in 2023. The trust attributed the surge to the aftermath of the October 7 attack.
The new bus service is seen as a step towards addressing the growing concern of anti-Semitism in London. As one passenger noted, “The old generation says the situation now reminds them of Germany before the war in the 1930s.”
