The 7 October Hamas attack opened a space – and antisemitism filled it. British Jews are living with the consequences | Dave Rich

The enduring myths find new ways to be relevant. They underpin the targeting of Jewish people, whatever their views on the conflict in Gaza

A few weeks ago, my teenage son was in a library revising for his exams. A woman sat down opposite, looked at the star of David necklace he has recently started wearing and glared at him. Then she placed her water bottle between them with its Boycott Israeli Apartheid" sticker turned to face his way.

She didn't speak to my son. She didn't ask what he thinks about Israel, Gaza, Netanyahu or Hamas. She doesn't know whether he has friends or relatives who have been taken hostage or killed (he doesn't), or if he has been on any pro-Palestine marches (he hasn't). Whether it is antisemitic or not to boycott Israel is beside the point. She seemed to be triggered by the simple sight of a Jew. There's no more basic expression of racism than that.

Dave Rich is the author of Everyday Hate: How Antisemitism is Built Into Our World and How You Can Change It, which is published in an updated edition on 16 May

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