In the post-modern, multicultural and globalised world we
live in today, it is much harder for western countries to define a sense of
national identity and shared values. The UK is a prime case in point. Should it
define itself through its Christian, imperial history or its multicultural,
liberal present? In the days of New Labour, the latter was stressed. Now, following
the ‘Trojan Horse’ scandal, the Coalition government are moving to the former.
Beyond this debate lies the UK’s Jewish community, happily
going about its business. British Jews, with a long history of loyalty to Queen
and country, a religious and cultural predisposition to integrate into a host
country’s society and a broad sharing of values with modern Britain, seem to be
above this kind of national identity crisis. Defining its relationship with
mainstream British culture by its contribution to it, which has undoubtedly
been disproportionately influential, the Jewish community’s place within British
society is seemingly beyond question.
Or perhaps not. In Sir Michael Wilshaw’s (Head of Ofsted) Advice
Note to the UK government in light of ‘Trojan Horse’, where inspections
revealed that groups of governors with Islamic extremist tendencies had dramatically
altered the ethos of some state schools in Birmingham in accordance with their
agendas, he says that “in culturally homogeneous communities, schools are often
the only places where children can learn about other faiths, other cultures and
other styles of living”. As a result, all schools – including faith schools,
will be required to “promote the values of wider British society”.
Although this policy seems innocuous, it could well
represent a fatal blow to the right of the Jewish community to define the way
it wants to live in the UK. Most would agree that Jewish schools prepare their
students for life in modern Britain – even Charedi schools, who, despite their
radically conservative approach, still produce law-abiding and respectful
citizens. However they do much more than this. Whether it is Zionist principles
of Jewish nationalism, support for the IDF and a positive disposition towards
Aliyah or religious Jewish principles of fighting assimilation, traditional
family values and differing roles for men and women, any inspection focusing
on beliefs and attitudes within Jewish schools will put them on collision
course with Ofsted and call into question their very existence within society.
The fundamental shift here is the switch from defining a
minority community’s relationship with mainstream society by contribution, to
one by belief. Although there are certainly problems with extremist values being
taught in schools, turning Ofsted into the ‘thought police’ sets a dangerous
precedent.
British politics is experiencing a polarisation of views to
both the left and the right. The disaffected liberal middle class is pushing
Labour towards the left, abandoning Tony Blair’s ‘third way’, whilst the disaffected
working class is pushing the Conservatives towards the right, manifested
indirectly through widespread support for UKIP. The Jewish community is
becoming abandoned in the middle. Support for the IDF arouses the ire of the
left, whilst the concept of a dual loyalty to Britain and Israel will soon
cross a red line for the right.
History has a tendency to repeat itself. Jews have always
been the enemy of the far left and the far right. However, bad things happen
when they are attacked from both sides simultaneously. And what’s more, of all
the issues to affect the Jewish community, it is the right to educate children
in the Jewish way that represents one of the absolute fundamentals of Jewish
life.
Ironically, it is the Jewish people who taught the western
world the value of education and the right of every child to receive one. It is
the Jewish people who have vast and successful experience of teaching Jewish
values in a host country. It is the Jewish people who have consistently
integrated into cultures the world over, bringing their own vigour and
creativity to improving the society around them.
The UK Jewish community are fast becoming the 'Squeezed Middle' of
the 'Big Society'. But sadly, neither Ed Miliband nor David Cameron seem to be paying
attention.
