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David Feldman

@dmf101.bsky.social
1.3K followers 546 following 6 posts

South of the Thames, south of the Yarra. Rootless cosmopolitan. Historian. Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism and University of Melbourne. Racism (against). Arsenal.

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Reposted by David Feldman
Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 21/05/2026
The Society's President and Council have released the following statement on the proposed closure of undergraduate degrees at the University of Hertfordshire, in #History and the wider humanities bit.ly/4dmV5oO This comes at a time of further bad news from Essex and Nottingham #Skystorians
bit.ly
History and the humanities at the University of Hertfordshire – a statement from the Royal Historical Society - RHS
Even for those familiar with bleak times, this has been a particularly bad few weeks in UK higher education. Confirmed job losses at the University of Essex were followed by further bad news from Hert...
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Brendan McGeever @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Antisemitism in Britain - what is going on? I talked to @arielleangel.bsky.social and Em Hilton of @naamoduk.bsky.social for the latest episode of the @jewishcurrents.bsky.social podcast. jewishcurrents.org/the-wrong-wa...
jewishcurrents.org
The Wrong Way to Fight Antisemitism in Britain
Brendan McGeever and Em Hilton discuss recent attacks on Jewish life in London and how the state response fuels the fire.
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Reposted by David Feldman
BISA at Birkbeck @bisa-bkk.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
David Feldman @dmf101.bsky.social in @newyorker.com on antisemitism in Britain today and why the government's response falls short www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
newyorker.com
The U.K.’s Antisemitism Problem
The British government has declared antisemitism a “crisis” after a recent spate of violent attacks. But will its solutions protect Jews, or make the situation worse?
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Reposted by David Feldman
History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · 02/02/2026
The latest issue of History Workshop Journal is out now, and it marks two exciting milestones: 50 years and 100 issues of innovative radical history. You can read the journal on the HWJ website through the link below! academic.oup.com/hwj...
The cover of History Workshop Journal 100. The cover is a woodland green, and shows an abstract illustration of a coniferous tree based on Sadiah Qureshi's article on the Wollemi pine.
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BISA at Birkbeck @bisa-bkk.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
BISA’s David Feldman on antisemitism in Britain and what can be done www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
theguardian.com
Tuesday briefing: Why efforts to tackle Britain’s long history of antisemitism have fallen short
In today’s newsletter: A scholar of antisemitism on how we define it, how it has operated in Britain, and what can be done
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Reposted by David Feldman
BISA at Birkbeck @bisa-bkk.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
BISA has received a major grant of USD$650,000 from Open Society Foundations @open-society.bsky.social to support its work. Director David Feldman @dmf101.bsky.social is joined by Brendanmcgeever.bsky.social as Co-Director. Full story www.bbk.ac.uk/news/birkbec...
bbk.ac.uk
Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism receives further funding boost
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Letter now republished by #LeftRenewal leftrenewal.org/statements-e... and @ukfost.bsky.social ukfost.co.uk/holocaust-st... Cc @edgyjewishthinking.bsky.social @duhaut.bsky.social @evafrojmovic0.bsky.social @guesnet.bsky.social @clairelefoll.bsky.social @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social
leftrenewal.org
An open letter to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust – 18 December 2025 – Left Renewal Blog
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History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · 16/12/2025
Today we are launching a new series of articles and podcasts to mark the 100th issue of History Workshop Journal 🎉✊🗃️ In this introductory article, Barbara Taylor reflects on a picnic she shared with other editors in 1984, and what it meant to be part of the HWJ collective.
historyworkshop.org.uk
An Editors' Picnic
Barbara Taylor introduces our new series with her memories of a picnic she enjoyed with other History Workshop Journal editors in 1984.
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Reposted by David Feldman
Brendan McGeever @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Why is support for the @greenparty.org.uk growing among British Jews and how do we understand this? A letter by @dmf101.bsky.social, @bengidley.bsky.social and me for the Guardian. 1/5
theguardian.com
The Green party’s policies on Israel are appealing to young British Jews | Letter
Letter: Prof David Feldman, Dr Ben Gidley and Dr Brendan McGeever from the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism say it is wrong to characterise Jewish support for the Greens as ‘paradoxica...
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
The Guardian quotes @jprdata.bsky.social calling the Green vote “paradoxical” (“for a significant minority of Jews, domestic priorities and progressive values outweigh foreign policy concerns”) BUT in fact it seems much of the Jewish Green vote comes from the growing minority who are not Zionist…
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
To keep this in perspective: 11% had turned to Reform, 18% to Green. The Green surge among Jews 9 times bigger than in the whole population; the switch to Ref was far smaller than in the whole population. The Green surge is the Jewish-specific story: the switch to Ref a weak echo of national trends.
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Feeling physically sick to hear on the news Shabana Mahmood saying that “illegal migration is tearing the country apart” which she must know is not true. What’s “tearing the country apart” is the cynical entrepreneurs of fear and hate who have gleefully pushed this non-issue.
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Prospect Magazine @prospectmagazine.co.uk · 21/10/2025
More Jewish people in Britain are concerned by general racism than the number who are worried by antisemitism. This is a building block for anti-racist politics, write three Birkbeck experts. @bisa-bkk.bsky.social
prospectmagazine.co.uk
The difficult truth about antisemitism
Why don’t we acknowledge that there are different ways of measuring the prevalence of anti-Jewish prejudice?
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Reposted by David Feldman
BISA at Birkbeck @bisa-bkk.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Antisemitism: how to measure it, how to confront it. Read BISA’s David Feldman @dmf101.bsky.social, @bengidley.bsky.social and @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social in www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/religi...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
The difficult truth about antisemitism
Why don’t we acknowledge that there are different ways of measuring the prevalence of anti-Jewish prejudice?
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Reposted by David Feldman
Julia Laite @julialaite.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
This is, I believe, the first official word from the Government on what happened yesterday in London. Not only inaction in the face of violence and hate, but a celebration of it. I passed through London twice yesterday with my two kids & what Labour seem to be missing is that people aren't just...
'Scale of unite the kingdom march shows free speech alive and well in UK, says minister
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Important thinking and reading, with the correct David Feldman retagged: @dmf101.bsky.social .
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BISA at Birkbeck @bisa-bkk.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Diane Abbot, anti-Black racism, antisemitism - read David Feldman @dmf101.bsky.social, @bengidley.bsky.social and @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social in ‪@prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/identi...
prospectmagazine.co.uk
The truth in Diane Abbott’s ill-judged remarks
Politicians need to find better of ways of thinking about racism—and of acting against it
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Brendan McGeever @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
"The politics of purity, of friend and enemy, with us or against us, does not serve the anti-racist movement but undermines it” David Feldman (@dmf101.bsky.social), @bengidley.bsky.social and I reply to Eli Machover. Grateful to @vashtimedia.bsky.social for hosting this discussion. (2/2)
vashtimedia.com
Against political purity: A reply to Eli Machover
The authors of Facing antisemitism argue for embracing the shifting ground of the Jewish community.
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Reposted by David Feldman
Vashti Media @vashtimedia.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
"We are in a historical moment in which key parts of the Jewish community are shifting: a moment in which the possibility of a politics of horizontal solidarity can be glimpsed." @dmf101.bsky.social, @bengidley.bsky.social, and @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social reply. vashtimedia.com/against-poli...
vashtimedia.com
Against political purity: A reply to Eli Machover
The authors of Facing antisemitism argue for embracing the shifting ground of the Jewish community.
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
It’s published alongside a critique of our report by Eli Machover. @vashtimedia.bsky.social have kindly offered us the opportunity to respond to this in a future issue. vashtimedia.com/response-to-...
vashtimedia.com
‘The choice is one between anti-racism and Zionism as such’
A response to the authors of Facing antisemitism.
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
The state of anti-antisemitism An interview with @dmf101.bsky.social, @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social and me in @vashtimedia.bsky.social about our recent report on antisemitism for @runnymedetrust.bsky.social vashtimedia.com/state-of-ant...
vashtimedia.com
The state of anti-antisemitism
An interview with the authors of a new Runnymede Trust report.
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Anna Roiser @annaroiser.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Everything about this conference is so grim from the speakers to the framing 🤢. Shame on United Synagogue and Rabbi Mirvis for participating.
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
I’m sorry but Netanyahu’s “antisemitism confidence” is nothing but a fascist rally. Germany’s antisemitism commissioner has pulled out on seeing the full line up. If Chief Rabbi Mirvis has any integrity he should too. www.international-conference-antisemitism-jerusalem.com
international-conference-antisemitism-jerusalem.com
Home | The International Conference on Combating Antisemitism
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Runnymede Trust @runnymedetrust.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Combating antisemitism must happen alongside wider anti-racist initiatives, including building alliances with other racialised minorities. Read the full report here 👉 ow.ly/LEp550UFjVP Join our report launch this evening at Birkbeck University 👉 ow.ly/T4w650UFjJ9
ow.ly
Facing antisemitism: the struggle for safety and solidarity
Antisemitism is hardwired into UK society, but current methods of tackling it are not working
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Runnymede Trust @runnymedetrust.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Antisemitism is hardwired into UK society, but current methods of tackling it are not working. Our new report, written by colleagues at @bisa-bkk.bsky.social, shows how we can move beyond framing antisemitism in ways that pit communities against one another.
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BISA at Birkbeck @bisa-bkk.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Written by BISA’s David Feldman @dmf101.bsky.social, @bengidley.bsky.social‬ and @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social, and commissioned by the @runnymedetrust.bsky.social‬, the report highlights how…
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BISA at Birkbeck @bisa-bkk.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Antisemitism is a stain on UK society. Current responses to tackling the problem are not working, and we urgently need a new approach to both thinking about and combating antisemitism – says a new report out today. Read the report here: ow.ly/LEp550UFjVP. A thread.
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Very honoured to be part of this with @bisa-bkk.bsky.social colleagues @dmf101.bsky.social and @brendanmcgeever.bsky.social and thrilled that the fantastic @rachelshabi.bsky.social and Maya Goodfellow will be speaking too.
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Finally, my own view is pretty much exactly that of Rachel Shabi here: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... (Not just because she cites another Birkbeck scholar, @dmf101.bsky.social)
Screenshot of top of article: 

“Opinion—

Kneejerk response, then overcorrection: what the aftermath of the Amsterdam violence should teach us

Rachel Shabi

Assumptions were made about clashes between Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and Amsterdam locals – and the far right took advantage”Screenshot from article: “In Amsterdam, we saw this in the frightening invocation of a “Jew hunt” in a chat coordinating an attack, and the use of a Dutch racial slur translating as “cancer Jew”; in the instances where people deemed to look Jewish were stopped and asked about their nationality, or allegedly forced to say “Free Palestine” in order to escape assault. This is not happening because criticism of Israel and anti-Jewish hatred are one and the same. Rather, it is because antisemitism, as scholars such as Prof David Feldman of Birkbeck, University of London have argued, can be likened to a reservoir that runs deep across European societies: a readily available language of prejudice that is drawn on in moments of provocation, crisis, or tension. The better we understand this as a social force, the more effectively we are able to counter it.”
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Ben Gidley @bengidley.bsky.social · 09/11/2024
My friend and colleague Brendan McGeever brings much needed sober context and historical analysis to the Amsterdam events threadreaderapp.com/thread/18549...
threadreaderapp.com
Thread by @BrendanMcGeever on Thread Reader App
@BrendanMcGeever: The violence in Amsterdam last night has been widely described as a pogrom against Jews. This is not only misleading but politically dangerous. A thread. As a scholar of pogroms, I h...
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