A number of Jewish schools in north London have reportedly closed for a day over fears for children’s safety amid a rise in antisemitism.
Fears have grown of street protests in support of Palestinians as Gaza comes under bombardment from Israeli air strikes. And a former head of Hamas has called for protests across the Muslim world on Friday.
According to the BBC, Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary School in Colindale, Torah Vodaas Primary School in Edgware, and Menorah High School in Neasden all told parents on Thursday they would not reopen until Monday.
The head teacher of Menorah High School for Girls, a state secondary school with 389 pupils, said the decision was made “in view of the planned protests”.
The BBC said it had seen a letter in which Esther Pearlman told parents: “Please be aware that this difficult decision has been reached because the [sic] of the risk of violence on the streets.
“The police are concerned that as the girls are not in school, they will venture outdoors and have asked us to advise you that it is incumbent on you as parents that your children remain indoors.”
Schools have advised Jewish pupils to disguise their uniforms because of a fear of retaliatory attacks.
One father told Sky News he had been advised by his children’s school to alter their uniform “so they are not signalling in any way they are Jewish”.
He said: “And in 2023 for my kids to go to school and it not be OK for them to wear uniform, a kippah, star of David on their blazers, to have to hide their identity in 2023, it’s very scary.
