A chaplain at a Jewish university who was forced into hiding due to death threats condemned the institution for failing to protect him and his family.
Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, who spent three years working at the University of Leeds with his wife Nava, said they will return to Israel.
Rabbi Deutsch, an IDF reservist, claims to have suffered a shocking hate campaign after returning from serving in the army. Israeli army for three months after October 7 Hamas stroke.
He was accused of "genocide" and received an avalanche of more than 300 threatening phone calls. The police even advised the family of four to go into hiding.
The abuse was partly fueled by controversial Green Party councilor Mothin Ali, 42, who shouted 'Allahu Akbar' moments after being elected to Leeds city council last month.
Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, who spent three years working at the University of Leeds with his wife Nava, said they will return to Israel.
The abuse was partly fueled by controversial Green Party councilor Mothin Ali (pictured), 42, who shouted "Allahu Akbar" moments after being elected as a Leeds city councilor last month.
An investigation by the Mail in February found that Ali, a prominent YouTuber and Tik Tok influencer โ had made a video about Rabbi Deutsch in which he called him "some kind of animal", "a scoundrel" and "a low-life", and falsely accused him of deliberately trying to kill women and children.
In one of the threatening phone calls to Mrs. Deutsch, a man is heard shouting: "Tell that Jewish son of a bitch we're coming after him." We're going to go to his house, we're going to kill him, and you too, you fucking racist bitch.'
In a statement, the couple said: โThe past few months since October last year have been exceptionally challenging on both a personal and community level.
"There were many moments when we felt that the university should have been much stronger in protecting our family and Jewish students from those on campus who were attacking Israel and our right to be Jewish."
Last night a university spokesperson said: "We totally condemn the anti-Semitic abuse directed at the chaplain and his family; such attacks on any individual are unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
