An open letter from CST Chairman, Gerald M Ronson CBE

For all of my adult life, I have fought against antisemitism.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the fascists had to be physically forced off our streets. That is what we did.

In the 1970s and 1980s, we had to develop security against terrorists. That is what we did. In 1994, after the car bombings of the Israeli Embassy and Balfour House, CST was fully established.

Since then, CST has spent millions of pounds providing security for Jewish communities across the country. If you lead any sort of Jewish life, from school to synagogue to old age home, CST is helping to secure you and your family. I am proud of what we have built, and I thank the thousands of Jewish men and women who have helped make it a reality.

I have never been party political and neither has CST, but our community now faces an extraordinary situation regarding the leadership of the Labour Party and its most vocal followers. This is the biggest political defence issue that our community has faced for decades.

CST does not chase publicity for our work, but I want you to know that we are doing all we can to provide our Jewish community with the best possible protection. This ranges from our unmatched expertise on understanding antisemitism, to monitoring over 80 million websites daily and giving security assistance to all who need it.

I understand why some families are expressing fear for the future, but I assure you all that neither I, nor CST, are going anywhere. We are proud of the community that we have helped to build and protect. We are British. We are Jewish. That will not change under my watch. 

I welcome you to join CST and assist us, but above all, I ask that this Rosh Hashanah, you consider the strength of what we have built, whether it is CST, the synagogue you sit in, or the Jewish life that you lead.

CST and our communal partners will keep defending you and your dignity. Please help us by standing proud and strong for what you believe in.

Shana Tova and Gmar Tov, Gerald M Ronson