Meet the crime-fighting Jews who are protecting Muslims in London

For all the friction between the Muslim and Jewish communities over the past decades, it’s surprising to hear of the two groups working together. But that’s what’s happening in London, where a group of crime-fighting Orthodox Jews have taken it upon themselves to protect the local Muslims. The 25-member “Shomrim” - Yiddish for guards - has been patrolling the streets of the Stamford Hill area of London since 2008. Initially, police were wary of the group, fearing vigilantism, but after apprehending the area’s “most wanted burglar,” police have begun cooperating with the group.

The local Muslims and local Jewish people do so much business together. Also, because we’re visible and suffered a long history of hate crime, we’re very alert to anything unusual.

Shulem Stern, Jewish resident and member of the Shomrim

When anti-Muslim tensions began to flare following the 2013 beheading of former soldier Lee Rigby by Islamic extremists, the Shomrim made sure to protect their Muslim neighbors. For the Jews, it’s a cultural and pragmatic relationship: The two groups come from the same area, share a similar heritage and have both faced persecution as minority groups. That, along with the close business relationships between the two groups, has ensured a close-knit sense of peace and brotherhood in the community.

Their courage goes unremarked, but that makes it all the more remarkable. Believe me, that’s the definition of courage.

John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of state

Europe jews muslims