London Jews help restore riot-affected areas
Jewish community yet to suffer significant damage from mass riots, but already enlisting to clean streets, collect supplies for the needy
As Britain continues to burn, the capital's Jewish community is trying to cope with what appears to be uncontrollable and endless violence spreading further every day. Some Jewish-owned businesses have already been attacked, but it appears the community's residential areas have yet to be affected. Meanwhile, London's Jewish residents have joined forces to try and restore the damages.
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Glickmans' "Do It Yourself" hardware store in Tottenham has been the livelihood of its Jewish owners and employees for dozens of years. Last Saturday it was attacked by rioters who broke the store's windows, looted its contents and left a world of chaos behind, leaving the owners no choice but to temporarily close shop.
"It's a shock but we were lucky, unlike other nearby stores that were completely burnt down," Corinna Lewis, a store employee, told Ynet.
Jewish-owned businesses throughout the United Kingdom were also hit during the riots. According to various reports some Jewish businesses were set on fire, and in Golders Green, a London suburb with a large Jewish community, a Jewish supermarket was robbed at knifepoint by masked hooligans.
Still, the wealthier neighborhoods, where most of the Jewish community resides, are enjoying relative quiet and have joined in efforts to assist riot victims.
Speaking to Ynet, Corinna, whose husband Derek manages Glickman's, recalled the events of the last weekend: "Late at night the alarm went off, so we realized something was happening at the store".
Arriving at the store, the horrific reality was revealed: "The store had been broken into, the door was shattered and inside – complete chaos – they stole everything they could carry. Lots of merchandise was stolen and there was paint and glass everywhere."
Corinna and Derek have managed to fix the store up and reopen its doors, but they are still in shock. "It's a complete shock, we don't know where this will lead to," Lewis explained, but noted that they also feel lucky that the damage weren't as bad as in other places and that they were able to reopen the store quickly – many were not as lucky.
Lewis explained that nearly all the businesses in the area were attacked but declared that they had no intention of leaving: "Where would we go? This is happening everywhere, not just here. We will do everything we can to move on, we won't give up."
Over the last few days there have been rumors that some haredi Jews were seen taking part in the riots after a number of them were documented fleeing the scene of the riots in Tottenham, but it would seem that in fact they were just observing the action.
Watch: Haredi Jews at the center of riots
In one case, a number of ultra-Orthodox Jews were filmed handing out challah bread to passersby, possibly as an act of neighborly concern for the community.
"These guys were probably mocking the police who weren't really managing to take control of the rioters but that is all," Jo Myles, a London resident and reporter for the Jewish News newspaper, told Ynet.
Myles explained that to the best of his knowledge, few Jewish businesses were affected, mostly at the beginning of the riots. "Most of the attacks have been occurring in the poorer areas, not in middleclass areas where most of the Jews live."
Jews, Muslims join forces
Myles also described the state of affairs in London's Stamford Hill neighborhood, which includes a large haredi community living side by side with an Islamic community. The two sectors have joined together to defend the area from looters, he said.
"They noticed youths wearing hoodies walking around the neighborhood and stood side by side to guard the synagogue and other sites," said Myles. He noted that residents were forced to defend their neighborhoods due to a lack of policing on the streets: "You didn't even see the police until last night, now they are finally spread out in the streets, better late than never."
Myles also said that his neighborhood, Dulwich, is completely quiet, much like other wealthy areas where many Jews live.
"Reports stating that most people are shutting themselves in their homes and are scared to go out are exaggerated. We just know where it's ok to go and then you have no problem. Now that the police is on the streets we all feel safer."
Even though the Jewish community hasn't suffered significant damage it has decided not to just stand on the sidelines.
At least two Jewish organizations have enlisted to help in restoring the riot areas and have called upon the community to join in clean-up and restoration efforts in the city center. Jewish organizations are also collecting clothing, bedding and other necessary items for people who have lost their homes in the riots.
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