736 years since England expelled the Jews

On July 18, 1290, King Edward I issued the Edict of Expulsion, formally expelling all Jews from the Kingdom of England. This marked the first such expulsion from a European country, following years of persecution, blood libels, and forced taxation. The Campaign Against Antisemitism noted that “Entire families were stripped of their homes, belongings, and citizenship simply for their faith.” Jews were not legally permitted to return for over 350 years until Oliver Cromwell informally allowed their entry. Today, approximately 300,000 Jews reside in the U.K., but renewed antisemitism, particularly since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, has led many British Jews to consider emigration, with only one-third believing they have a long-term future in the U.K.