Welsh Antisemitism: A Small Jewish Population Faces Persistent Hostility

Professor Nathan Abrams argues that the low Jewish population in Wales does not equate to low levels of antisemitism. Speaking to The Jerusalem Post on Sunday, Abrams stated that the absence of Jews in the region has historically resulted in the opposite effect, with attitudes becoming more pronounced as numbers remained small.

Abrams, a specialist in Welsh Jewry at Bangor University, recently published the book Jews in the Welsh Imagination: Medieval Times to the Present. He noted that for approximately 15 centuries, Wales had no Jewish residents. According to the 2021 UK Census, 2,044 people in Wales identified as Jewish, representing about 0.07% of the nation's 3.1 million residents. The majority reside in Cardiff, where two synagogues operate, while a Chabad house serves Llandudno.

Recent policing data reveals a complex picture of religious hate crimes in the country. Between April 2025 and March 2026, Welsh police recorded 6,157 hate crimes, of which 325 were motivated by religion, a decrease from 451 in the prior period. However, these figures do not break down the specific religions targeted. A separate Freedom of Information request to Dyfed-Powys Police showed the force recorded 17 anti-Jewish crimes in 2025, up from 12 in 2024, marking a 42% increase.

The Community Security Trust (CST) reported 25 antisemitic incidents geographically linked to Wales in calendar year 2025. These included 13 incidents in North Wales, 8 in South Wales, and 2 each in Dyfed-Powys and Gwent. Abrams suggested that on-the-ground figures may be higher than those reported to the CST, as police often classify offenses under different categories.

The Welsh Local Government Association recently met with Jewish community representatives to address these trends. During the discussions, officials reported growing anxiety among community members, including routine verbal abuse and concerns about children in schools. The South Wales Jewish Representative Council stated that while the community is resilient, the recent rise in antisemitism has left many individuals shaken.

Abrams described the nature of Welsh antisemitism as a microcosm of English trends, with much of the hostility occurring on social media and coalescing around the Israel-Palestine conflict. He referenced the concept of ambient antisemitism, where actions such as tearing down posters or putting up stickers create a hostile environment that discourages Jews from identifying themselves in public.

The professor lives in northwest Wales, a region characterized by strong Welsh nationalism and support for Plaid Cymru, a left-leaning party that advocates for Palestinian state recognition and has called for harsh sanctions against Israel. Abrams observed that this political stance contributes to an obsession with Israel, where well-meaning individuals often repeat historical tropes without recognizing them as antisemitic.

He noted a class divide in how the conflict is perceived. Working-class residents often view demonstrators with suspicion, while middle-class protesters and academics frequently express antisemitic sentiments under the guise of political critique. Abrams said that outside metropolitan areas, the hostility often comes from older, white, and polite individuals who view their criticism as a form of political correctness.