A RABBI who ministers to the Jewish community in Belfast has said he believes there has been an increase in anti-semitism in Northern Ireland.
Rabbi David Singer told BBC Radio Ulster's Sunday Sequence that he believes bigotry towards the Jewish community was "on the rise"
Thirteen Jewish graves were attacked in west Belfast in August and graffiti including a Swastika and a reference to gassing Jews as also recently daubed on walls in the city.
Rabbi Singer said; "Why would people want to look for some kind of excuse to vandalise what are people's last place of rest?
"Whatever excuse we can find be it a football match, be it anti-Semitism, be it whatever, it's pure vandalism and I don't think we really need to find an excuse, this is the act of vandals this is the act of people who have no respect for the living or the dead", he said.
Rabbie Singer said that people needed to "embrace the different and the difference" but added "my impressions of the people of Northern Ireland haven't really changed ... the majority of people are very warm and very welcoming".
Saying that when there are attacks on the Jewish community he receives a flood of support from the public in Northern Ireland.
Reverend Ken Newell who also appeared on the programme said a "low level" of conversation on matters of religion was breeding "prejudice and bigotry" against both the Jewish and Muslim communities.
