Stephen Lamonby, 73, a part-time lecturer at Southampton Solent, remarked to a colleague, Janet Bonar, that people from different countries had become good at certain things owing to “high exposure”.  He said that Germans are good at engineering because they are “exposed to a high level of industry from an early stage in their lives”. When Dr Bonar, an engineering lecturer, mentioned her degree in physics, Mr Lamonby said that Jewish people had “a particular gift” for the subject. He used Albert Einstein as an example and asked Dr Bonar if she was Jewish. She took offence and called Mr Lamonby a racist. He replied: “I believe that the Jewish are the cleverest people in the world. They are much maligned because of it. I asked if you were Jewish because of your ability with maths/physics et cetera. Which is a speciality of theirs.” He also said: “I have a soft spot for young black males. I do think that they are underprivileged and many [are] without fathers et cetera [and] need all the help they can get.”

Mr Lamonby was sacked by the University and an employment tribunal has dismissed his claim. Judge CH O’Rourke said: “A Jew told they are good at physics — because they are a Jew — may well consider that as demeaning their personal intellectual ability/hard work.”

This verdict is ludicrous. There is nothing in the slightest bit offensive about saying that Jews have a talent for physics.  Although Jews account for less than 0.2% of the world’s population, at least 20% of all Nobel Prizes have been won by Jews, including 56 winners of the Physics Prize – nearly half of the total!

It is the responsibility of those of us who call out genuine antisemitism to also call out false antisemitism.  Nothing that Lamonby reportedly said is in the slightest bit offensive.  Judge O’Rourke’s verdict must be overturned on appeal and Mr Lamonby must be offered his job back or given appropriate compensation if he feels unable to return to Southampton Solent.

(Source: Times 22.7.2020)