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Jeremy Corbyn has insisted there is no place for anti-Semitism within Labour and those guilty of anti-Jewish racism have been “brought to book”.
He urged the Jewish community to “engage” with him following outspoken criticism from the chief rabbi.
Ephraim Mirvis had claimed “a new poison – sanctioned from the very top – has taken root” in the party.
Mr Corbyn said anti-Semitism was “vile” and “rapid and effective” action had been taken against offenders.
At the launch of the party’s “race and faith manifesto”, he said anti-Semitism would not be tolerated in any form under a future Labour government and no community would be be “at risk because of its faith, identity, ethnicity or language”.
Mr Mirvis, the Orthodox chief rabbi of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, earlier warned that “the overwhelming majority of British Jews are gripped by anxiety” at the prospect of a Labour victory in 12 December’s general election.
The chief rabbi, who is the spiritual leader of the United Synagogue, the largest umbrella group of Jewish communities in the country, said Labour’s claim it had investigated all cases of anti-Semitism in its ranks was a “mendacious fiction”.
In an article for the Times, he asked people to “vote with their conscience” in the election.
Asked if he regretted not doing enough to tackle the issue, Mr Corbyn said internal processes for dealing with anti-Semitism were “constantly under review” and his door would be open to Mr Mirvis and other faith leaders to discuss their concerns if he entered Downing Street.
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Ephraim Mirvis urged people to vote “with their conscience”
“Since I become leader, there are disciplinary procedure that didn’t exist before. Where people have committed anti-Semitic acts they are brought to book and, if necessary, expelled from the party or suspended, or asked to be educated better about it.
“I want to live in a country where people respect each other faiths and people feel secure to be Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or Christian.
“But be absolutely clear of this assurance from me. No community will be at risk because of at risk because of its faith, identity, ethnicity or language. I have spent my life fighting racism.
“I ask those who think things have not been done correctly to talk to me about it but above all engage. I am very happy to engage.”
Labour has been beset by allegations of anti-Semitism for more than three years, leading to the suspension of a number of high-profile figures such as Ken Livingstone and Chris Williamson, and an unprecedented investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
A number of prominent Jewish Labour politicians, including Luciana Berger and Louise Ellman, have quit the party after being the subject of anti-Semitic abuse on social media while others have accused Mr Corbyn of personally endorsing anti-Semitic tropes and imagery.
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