To be concerned about the rise of antisemitism in the UK?

That attack was horrendous, I don't understand why he did that, just pure hatred I suppose.

@AnnieLobeseder 2 of my husband's sisters have made Aliyah. One could not afford Tel Aviv so moved to bat yam! You know, bat yam where the last riots started...I think it's because intellectually it's tiring to keep defending who you are, but in Israel everyone is Jewish. When I take a lot of leave in September, I feel like I have to justify myself (bosses have made comments). In Israel, there is none of that.

@Mynameisnew it can be quite hard to count Jewish people..the people who marry out is around 1/3. Of course a lot of the people who marry out would still consider themselves Jewish but it's quite likely the children may not esp if the Jewish person was the father and the non Jewish partner was Catholic or C of E. My synagogue is liberal and they do recognize the children who are raised as Jewish from such mixed marriages as Jewish but orthodox synagogues are the majority and they don't. Also are they getting the Jewish population from household census or from synagogues. It cost money to belong to a synagogue; many of the most religious people I know (esp the orthodox) don't belong to a synagogue!

I would just like to say thank you to all the non-Jewish posters who have extended their support, lit candles, and not minimised anti-semitism. It means a lot.

Personally, i was disappointed the thread was politicised but if you wish to do that, then please then accept that anti-semitism has increased rapidly under the Tories.

Politics reflect society and we are not one at peace with itself.

The whole 'But Israel' thing is clearly a red herring anyway. After all, it's not like Buddhist temples have been targeted following the Rohingya genocide (a million times worse than anything that has happened in Palestine) or Russian Orthodox Churches after Chechnya or similar or, indeed, Chinese institutions because of the Uighur. But Jews? Oh, that's because of Israel.

[quote MmeSosostris]@LakieLady

I think it has become legitimate now - some of those old NF types were quite clear that they were fascists. Now, the racism is there and the internet has allowed people to construct/believe in the constructions that wrap around the racism[/quote]
I think you're spot on. The racist and anti-semitic far right used to be separate, now they're everywhere.

@LakieLady

I think it has become legitimate now - some of those old NF types were quite clear that they were fascists. Now, the racism is there and the internet has allowed people to construct/believe in the constructions that wrap around the racism

That's appalling. Did he complain?

I have real issues with some of my in-laws, who are openly racist and anti-semitic and think nothing of expressing their vile views. They extend them to travellers and Roma as well, they're very much equal opportunity racists.

[quote MmeSosostris]@Twentypast
They said something in Hebrew that has been translated- like ‘call for help, it’s serious’

How can the BBC refute that? Extraordinary.[/quote]
It's crazy. But that's the BBC.

The Ofcom investigation might be interesting.

@Twentypast
They said something in Hebrew that has been translated- like ‘call for help, it’s serious’

How can the BBC refute that? Extraordinary.

I'm not Jewish and I am on the left in Labour. Antisemitism sickens me to the core. I am so sorry that people don't feel safe. There needs to be better education about Antisemitism now as well as making sure all school children know the full history and horrors of the holocaust. Antisemitism should carry a severe punishment. It slips under the radar because there is a lack of education about how subtle or nuanced it can be. That's how it seeps into the consciousness. It is covert, it is sometimes barely audible and that's what gives it power. Candle is lit and the flame against injustice should never go out.

This is probably a completely daft question but why is antisemitism on the rise? I really don't understand what anyone can possible have against Jewish people? Or is it just like all other racism where people think other people are inferior (sorry that is a crap way to sum up racism!)

For what it's worth I lit a candle tonight, the holocaust and the atrocities that happened should never be forgotten.

I'm not Jewish, but I have noticed it's on the rise. A church near me had anti Semitic graffiti sprayed on it this week. Awful. I lit a candle in my window this evening

Of course, there is nothing wrong with Jews and the issue is with the anti semites. To my knowledge I know no-one in Britain who is Jewish - but, I used to think I didn't know any catholics either, and I said as much to the three friends I was having a drink with one night and they all laughed as they were all Catholic. My point is, someone else's religion and culture is really irrelevant to a great extent. Living in France, I worked and holidayed with a Jewish girl. She was utterly lovely and truly anyone who would target such a person... Well it's just ludicrous. She laughed at me actually and said well my surname is kinda Jewish- but I had no idea as I have no stereotype in my head. What would be a Jewish name? Well - perhaps a germanic sounding one - but since I studied German and Dutch I already knew loads of Christians and atheists with names like goldmann or something-baum.

On the financial side- I had thought that in biblical days, Christians weren't allowed to lend money so it fell to Jews. Well, why is that a bad thing? Today society criticises "bankers". Are we going to be harassing their great-grandchildren 80 generations down the line about the credit crunch?

The reasoning just eludes me. By that biblical reasoning, is society as a whole misogynistic towards women because of the fall from grace?

It can't be a Palestine thing because isn't that just 20th century...? I admit I know really very little about Palestine and Israel. I must get reading.

*if

Also, with the incident on Oxford St with the bus before Christmas the BBC reported that the Jewish students had said something anti Muslim which was shown to be completely fabricated. I think that would have got much more publicity (the misconstuction of the situation and implying that there were offensive comments on both sides) of it were other groups - this is the BBC.

I don't see it where I live, but I
believe people that it exists. I'm truly disgusted by it.

@sansucre I know Jews are a race as well as a religion. I put my ethnicity as Jewish on forms but usually put my religion as none, as this seems the most sincere way to express my personal heritage (I've not been in a synagogue in the last 20 years so claiming the religion seems a bit much).

But, people are busy arguing online that that isn't the case and I know that it isn't an isolated view. My point, maybe badly made, was it is one of the reasons why it is easier for people to dismiss antisemitism, because it's "not like its racism".

@Twentypast
How utterly revolting, I’m so sorry.

My last name is a very common English surname. My DH's great grandfather anglicised it when they came from Germany between the world wars. I'm blonde with green eyes so not what people consider stereotypical Jewish looks.
I had a work manager who was very antisemitic in his views and didn't realise I was Jewish. I was very young at the time and although it upset me I didn't know what to do. I certainly couldn't have confronted him. A colleague who was black and had experienced racism went to his line manager and complained. She knew I was Jewish.
When he was questioned by his manager his excuse was that he didn't know I was Jewish. So it was alright for him to have those views but just not express them in front of me. He just couldn't accept his views were wrong.

Never come across antisemitism in my life.
I'm not Jewish, and I have. Including from a Highland Scot.

It's pernicious, and widespread.