A HOLOCAUST survivor and Jewish leaders say they are worried about a rise in anti-Semitism – but the problem isn’t as bad in Dorset.

A YouGov poll of more than 3,400 UK adults, commissioned by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA), found that 45 per cent of adults believe that at least one anti-Semitic view presented to them was ‘definitely or probably true’.

In a separate survey, also by the CAA, 54 per cent of Jews feared they had no future in the UK, with a quarter saying they had considered leaving the country in the past two years.

Of the 2,230 British Jews asked, 56 per cent said they felt that anti-Semitism now echoed that of the 1930s.

Last year saw the most anti-Semitic incidents recorded by police since records began 30 years ago, the campaign said.

Henry Schachter, a Holocaust survivor who lives in Bournemouth, was just five years old when he had to be hidden from the Nazis.

He now speaks at schools and said: “It’s very similar (to the 1930s), especially for everyone who went through those years.”

Henry said images from the Middle East in the media fuelled the problem.

But of Bournemouth, he added: “We have a very good relationship with Muslims here and so far there’s been no evidence of anti-Semitic rants and rages.

“But in London it’s very prevalent and when you see placards saying ‘death to the Jews’ you do get very worried.

“It is a worry and we do look twice and we have to have security at our festivals.”

Rabbi Maurice Michaels, of Bournemouth Reform Synagogue, said the findings reflect those in other European countries, but said he did not agree things are as bad as they were in the 1930s.

But he added: “That doesn’t mean that people don’t feel that it is. Locally I don’t see a lot of anti-Semitism, but I think we have perhaps a very different mix of people than exists in certain parts of London, for example.”

Adnan Chaudry, chief officer of Dorset Race Equality Council, said the survey findings made ‘disturbing reading’.

He added: “There’s always been the odd incident in Dorset, but from my own knowledge it’s probably not as great as other parts of the country.

“The most pleasing thing for me is that the faith communities work really well together and it’s a good model for Dorset. That’s the way to undercut anti-Semitism.”

Rabbi Adrian Jesner, of the Bournemouth Orthodox Synagogue, said: “I’m comfortable in Bournemouth; I have a very good relationship with the different faith groups in Bournemouth, they are sensitive to my feelings and I’m sensitive to theirs.

“I don’t find an outward manifestation of anti-Semitism in Bournemouth.

“I believe strongly in the democracy of this country and I believe strongly in the fact that the Government will protect and look after all minority faiths.”

Rabbi Jesner added that anti-Semitic beliefs could be stirred up by media reporting, in particular of the Middle East.

“I think that the temperature rises and falls with the Middle East situation,” he added.