Jewish university chaplain forced to flee to Israel after death threats in 'hate campaign'
A Jewish university chaplain at Leeds University has decided to return to Israel after receiving a barrage of death threats.
A Jewish chaplain at Leeds University has condemned the institution for failing to protect him and his family from a barrage of death threats and anti-Semitic abuse.
Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, who has spent the last three years working at the university with his wife, Nava, announced that they will be moving back to Israel following the harrowing ordeal.
The threats began after Rabbi Deutsch, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservist, returned from a three-month service in the Israeli army following the October 7 Hamas attack.
Upon his return, he was met with accusations of "genocide" and received over 300 threatening phone calls, leading the police to advise the family to go into hiding for their safety.
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The abuse was reportedly fuelled by Green Party councillor Mothin Ali, 42, who shouted "Allahu Akbar" moments after his election to Leeds City Council last month.
An investigation by the Mail in February revealed that Ali, a prominent YouTuber and TikTok influencer, had posted a video in which he called Rabbi Deutsch "a kind of animal," "a creep," and "a low-life," and falsely accused him of deliberately trying to kill women and children.
One particularly alarming phone call to Mrs Deutsch involved a man screaming: "Tell that Jewish son of a bitch we are coming for him.
“We're coming to his house, we're going to kill him, and you as well, you f****** racist b***h."
In a joint statement, Rabbi Deutsch and his wife said: "The past few months since October last year have been exceptionally challenging at both a personal and communal level.
“There were many moments when we felt the university should have been much stronger in protecting our family, and the Jewish students, from those on campus who were attacking Israel and our right to be Jews."
A spokesman for Leeds University issued a statement in response, they said: "We totally condemn the anti-Semitic abuse directed towards the Chaplain and his family – such attacks on any individual are unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
