Jewish university chaplain who received a torrent of death threats and was accused of genocide in ‘hate campaign’ is forced to flee Britain for Israel with his family

A Jewish university chaplain who was forced into hiding due to death threats has condemned the institution for failing to protect him and his family.

Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, who worked at Leeds University for three years with his wife Nava, said they would move back to Israel.

Rabbi Deutsch – an IDF reservist – claims he suffered a shocking hate campaign after returning from serving in the Israeli army for three months following the October 7 Hamas attack.

He was accused of “genocide” and was targeted by an avalanche of more than 300 threatening phone calls. Police even advised the family of four to go into hiding.

The abuse was partly fueled by controversial Green Party councilor Mothin Ali, 42, who shouted “Allahu Akbar” moments after being elected to Leeds city council last month.

Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, who worked at Leeds University for three years with his wife Nava, said they would move back to Israel.

The abuse was partly fueled by controversial Green Party councilor Mothin Ali (pictured), 42, who shouted “Allahu Akbar” moments after being elected to Leeds city council last month.

An investigation by the Mail in February found that Ali – a prominent YouTuber and TikTok influencer – made a video about Rabbi Deutsch calling him “some kind of animal”, a “creep” and a “lifer” and accused him of falsely that he deliberately tried to kill women and children.

In one of the threatening phone calls made to Ms. Deutsch, a man can be heard screaming, “Tell that goddamn Jew we’re coming for him. We’re coming to his house, we’re going to kill you too, you racist bastard.

In a statement, the couple said: “The last few months of October last year were exceptionally challenging both personally and as a community.

“There were many times when I felt the university should have been much stronger in protecting our family and Jewish students from those on campus who were attacking Israel and our right to be Jewish.”

Last night, a university spokesman said: “We totally condemn the anti-Semitic abuse directed at the chaplain and his family – such attacks on any individual are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”