The National Jewish Assembly (NJA) expresses profound solidarity with Candida Gertler OBE following her resignation from all voluntary positions within UK arts institutions, an act of protest against the pervasive antisemitism that has infected the very core of the country’s cultural sector.
Gertler, a trailblazer whose philanthropy has transformed the contemporary arts landscape, described a “broader culture that seeks to marginalise and dehumanise Jews.” Her resignation highlights the cowardice of institutions that claim to uphold diversity and inclusion but have instead succumbed to the intimidation of aggressive activists.
Gary Mond, Chairman of the NJA, said: “Candida Gertler’s resignation exposes the moral rot at the heart of the UK arts sector. Institutions that should champion dialogue, creativity, and tolerance have become platforms for hatred, where antisemitism is not just tolerated but normalised. These organisations have betrayed their foundational principles and, in doing so, have betrayed their Jewish patrons, artists, and supporters.”
This is not an isolated case but part of a troubling trend where antisemitism has taken root under the guise of political critique, targeting Jews and supporters of Israel. The NJA condemns this hypocrisy and cowardice, which have turned supposedly inclusive spaces into hotbeds of exclusion and hostility.
“The UK arts sector is at a moral crossroads,” Mond continued. “Will it reclaim its role as a champion of diversity, or will it continue down this path of complicity with hate? If institutions do not act now, they will not only lose their credibility but also their claim to be spaces of genuine creativity and inclusion.”
The NJA calls on decision-makers within the arts sector to take immediate and decisive action. Institutions must implement zero-tolerance policies on antisemitism, hold those responsible for hate speech accountable, and actively protect Jewish artists and patrons. Anything less would cement the sector’s complicity in fostering a hostile environment for the Jewish community.
Antisemitism has no place in art, nor in any corner of society. Gertler’s resignation must serve as a wake-up call: the time for silence and inaction is over.
