"I didn't know you were Jewish!!!"

[Kappin]

This happened in the office this morning. My surname isn't 'Jewish' as my husband isn't. When discussing weekend events I happened to mention it was Hannukah, cue stunned disbelief from everyone in the nearby vicinity "I didn't know!", "you don't look Jewish!", "how are you Jewish" and even "ah so that's why you've got so much money at your age!". Has anyone else found this? It's resulted in that reaction a few times before in different situations but never before have I really questioned why.

[sotiredofthis1]

"ah so that's why you've got so much money at your age!" that's downright ignorant and offensive .

Not Jewish myself but I have experienced the same disbelief re. my dc sometimes. They are half Indian and I think they look it as well, but some people (who do not know my dh) really can't belieeeve it when they find out.....

[RB68]

I would just respond "we are not all stereo typical" but yes - Catholic background, divorced and remarried - get all sorts of reactions when back home!!!

[sotiredofthis1]

What did you say to your colleagues?

[Kerberos]

I'm not quite sure what the AIBU is - but people are people so I wouldn't expect to be able to spot someone's religion by just looking at them. Some of those comments are very rude.

[catfordbetty]

Perhaps, perhaps, a moment of surprise might be acceptable. The anti-semetic comments are impossible to justify.

[nancy75]

The money thing is rude!
I get the opposite, 2 white British parents, all grandparents white British, I have very dark skin, black hair and look "other" people ask where I am from and then expect me to go through the whole family tree as they don't believe me!

[MitzyLeFrouf]

The money comment is outrageous. I'd have slapped their chops for that.

[HapShawl]

Dp is Jewish (by birth, not practising) and he gets this a lot when it comes up

[LurkingHusband]

When discussing weekend events I happened to mention it was Hannukah,

Does just knowing the dates of religious festivals make you a follower then ?

I'm just at the fact some people assume you'd only know that if you were Jewish.

[swisscheesetony]

All the time - am a blue eyed blonde. Clearly they've never been to Israel!

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

people are rude cunts.

[LaContessaDiPlump]

People saying 'Oh, I didn't know!' - not offensive.

People saying 'Oh, you don't look it!' - I don't get offended on my own account as my dad is Muslim and other Muslims would be surprised that I (a pale ginger English-sounding girl) defined myself as Muslim

The money comment - offensive at any time under any circumstances!!

[swisscheesetony]

But actually... if there's any of that "Jewish money" going, can I have some? I think the chief rabbi must've lost my bank details.

[CastaDiva]

The money comment is straightforwardly anti-Semitic, unless there's some possible other way of interpreting it that I'm not innocent/uncynical enough to see.

And what on earth does 'how are you Jewish?' mean?

Though admittedly, I find that a certain kind of person in this country sees anything other than a polite, inherited, weddings-and-funerals-only agnostic Anglicanism as pretty odd, and it leads to some very curious responses. I'm Irish and while I'm an atheist, I grew up Catholic, and have occasionally had some very odd questions about why I don't have ten children and obey the Pope, or what I say in confession.

[fidel1ne]

"I didn't know!", "you don't look Jewish!", "how are you Jewish" and even "ah so that's why you've got so much money at your age!".

They sound a bit, erm, is stupid the word?

[VestalVirgin]

It's resulted in that reaction a few times before in different situations but never before have I really questioned why.

Um ... antisemitism, probably? The comment about money was really inappropriate.

People may have automatically assumed that you're Christian and been embarrassed about it, therefore feeling the need to justify their assumptions.

It would be less embarrassing if they just pretended to never have made any assumptions, but apparently that is a bit too difficult for some people.

[MaidOfStars]

I didn't know!
Fine.

you don't look Jewish!
Rather nasty stereotype.

how are you Jewish
Could count as a reasonably interested question?

ah so that's why you've got so much money at your age!
Anti-semitic. In the workplace, I would report.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Could the money comment be seen not anti-semitically?

My colleague is from Bangladesh and they have a large family here who all live in the same area - all money is seen as 'family money' and couples are given a house from family when they set up home so the family own about 10/12 houses in a small area.

Any chance that Jewish families in your bit of town do the same?

[MagicalMrsMistoffelees]

Just wondering if I 'look' atheist?

What is the atheist 'look'?

Is it horns?

[pinkdelight]

The money comment is clearly offensive. But re. your thread title, I have said this in other circumstances, where the person is clearly (to others) more obviously Jewish in appearance and name, but I've been repeatedly clueless in this regard and then been made to look stupid for not realising. So I think it's tricky because some people will expect you to know that they're Jewish and think you're dumb if you don't take it into account e.g. in talking about potential partners, one girl I worked with discounted anyone non-Jewish, which is how I found out and made the thread title comment, which she was agog at - not because I'd been offensive, but because I hadn't known she was and it was an important part of her identity which I'd apparently overlooked. But really, unless someone is full-on Hasidic or self-identified in some other way, how would people know without some element of stereotyping?

[Margay]

I get that too, although I think I do look stereotypically Jewish.

The money comment would piss me off, although not as much as the guy who insisted I should feel guilty for "killing Jesus".

[ASAS]

May I ask something, truly not meaning to compound the issue, but what is stereotypical about money that would have brought on this comment? I know many Jewish families lost their livelihoods fleeing so where is this notion from?

Also totally idiotic colleagues.

[DanishBlue]

Was staying with some friends we met on holiday and were invited to her extended family's house party. Big house, North London, very friendly. Introduced her to DS who was about 4 at the time "this is Christian he is 4" - shock, horror, response "So you are NOT Jewish????"

Bit shocked that it was an issue TBH, it wasn't even a consideration to me!

[aginghippy]

I get a similar thing sometimes. People are surprised, spend too long looking at me and then say 'ah yes, you do look a bit Jewish.' My reaction is usually the face and changing the subject.

As pp said, the money comment is straightforward anti-semitism and I would give that person a wide berth in future.