Jewish university chaplain forced into hiding after receiving hundreds of death threats against him and his family over his role as IDF reservist

Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch was forced to flee his Leeds home with his children

A Chaplain at Leeds University was forced into hiding with his young family yesterday after receiving death threats over his role as an IDF reservist.

Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, wife Nava and their two children were moved to a safe location on police advice amid a shocking hate campaign.

Pro-Palestinian campaigners have accused Rabbi Deutsch of ‘genocide’ after he returned to Israel after Hamas’s October 7 terror attacks to serve in the Israeli Defence Force.

He resumed his chaplaincy duties last month, leading to an escalation in anti-Semitic threats on campus.

On Thursday evening, the hate campaign intensified with ‘hundreds’ of malicious calls to the family, including threats to kill Rabbi Deutsch, to rape and kill Mrs Deutsch and to murder their children.

Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch with his wife Nava. The pair were forced to flee their Leeds home with their children following the threats

Rabbi Deutsch was accused of ‘genocide’ after he returned to Israel following Hamas’s October 7 terror attacks to serve in the Israeli Defence Force (stock photo)

A Jewish building at the University of Leeds (stock photo) was also vandalised with ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘IDF off campus’ slogans

In a recording of one phone call to Mrs Deutsch – heard by the Mail – the caller said: ‘Tell that Jewish son of a bitch we are coming for him.

‘We’re coming to his house, we’re going to kill him, and you as well you f****** racist bitch.’

Another caller said: ‘Us Muslims are coming for you, you dirty Zionist m***********.’

Another said: ‘We are going to get you. How dare you come back to Leeds and expect the Muslims not to do ‘owt, when all you lot have been doing is killing innocent children.’

The Deutsch family decided to leave their Leeds home after taking police advice, sources said.

It comes amid skyrocketing levels of anti-Semitism on British university campuses and around Europe.

The University Jewish Chaplaincy (UJC) said: ‘We are deeply shocked and appalled by the despicable torrent of horrific anti-Semitic hate and threats of violence being directed at Rabbi Deutsch and his family.

‘We are in constant communication with Rabbi Deutsch, and our primary concern is to ensure his and his family’s ongoing safety, and the safety of Jewish students at Leeds University.

‘To find ourselves in this situation in the UK in 2024 marks a dark day for British Jews.’

Jewish students have faced vile abuse on campus amid an ‘unacceptable’ rise in anti-Semitism at UK universities. Picture shows a poster featuring a swastika in place of the Star of David on the flag of Israel at Royal Holloway, University of London

Activists from Glasgow University this month demanding the stopping of investments related to arming the Israeli Defence Force

Claudia Mendoza of the Jewish Leadership Council said: ‘What we have witnessed is truly shocking.

‘Campus is a cesspit of anti-Semitism with unprecedented abuse being directed at students and the Jewish chaplain in Leeds. If we ignore this because it is “only” the Jews, we will regret what this country becomes.’

A Jewish building at the University of Leeds was also vandalised with ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘IDF off campus’ slogans. Separately, a protest calling for the rabbi’s removal was staged in the city yesterday, organised by the Leeds Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Leeds Socialist Worker Student Society.

Leeds University said of the vandalism: ‘We are deeply saddened that our Jewish community appears to have been targeted by this criminal act. The university takes incidents of this nature extremely seriously and the safety and welfare of our students and staff is our No 1 priority.

‘We recognise that students and staff across our community have been deeply affected by the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, and will continue to provide support.

‘We are working with the police and the property owners as they investigate this incident, and have supported the UJC in swiftly cleaning and repainting the property.

West Yorkshire Police said: ‘Police in Leeds are investigating after receiving a report of threats made towards a male. Officers have spoken to the victim and safeguarding measures have been put in place.’