To ask you to help with a cover story for my Jewish child

I agree with you that it often comes from that direction, but I guess a better response is that it doesn’t only come from that direction.

It’s taken me a very long time to see that it can come from all directions because to me being racist and left wing is a contradiction in terms - but some people do seem to manage it!

You'd be surprised (with regard to people in general asking about heritage): I've seen this in schools (both as a pupil as a teacher) and I used to get people of both British only heritage and Eastern European heritage asking about my background - my maiden surname was very obviously Slavic.

I've also seen children from one ethnic background picking on children from another ethnic background.

I've also come across medical professionals concealing their heritage in order to avoid harassment.

Wider than Mail Online?

I think that's something only an antisemitic person would conclude and they would have said the same to any non-anglo-saxon-looking person whatever their response to the "where are you from" question. There isn't a thing that your eldest child could have said to the antisemitic person that would have been an adequate shield - even if they lied and claimed Cyprus ot similar. If the new school your younger child starts at is just as full of antisemites then there will not be any answer that will be an adequate shield but if it's just mainly normal people - ie if it is away from the local area that has such an unusual demographic makeup where you have had previous bad experiences - then the vague answer will be fine.

You were the one supposedly talking to these droves of Asian people interrogating your Indian heritage.

Weird how they didn’t have jobs to do but had all that time to interrogate you.

Would you consider moving? Because I can tell you that not all schools are like this!

I’m in a SW London borough, plenty of families coming from different countries and practicing different religions, and everybody just gets along.
At the school gates there are muslim mums with headscarves and jewish mums (I know because they said it, I wouldn’t have guessed to be fair), and christian ones as well.
Religion only comes up when we discuss specific events, Ramadan at the moment for ex.

I’m shocked at what you are describing. Not doubting you at all, but miles away from my experience, hence my question about moving.

WTAF. What does a British person look like?

I've no idea. Maybe go and ask them.

So why do you think so many Hindus and Sikhs asking you about your heritage? That seems unusual to me.

Agreed. My daughter goes to catholic school, very diverse kids many different ethnicity's / social backgrounds / religions. Any antisemitism would be given short shift and taken extremely seriously. Very sad it's come to this though for ops kids, they should just be able to go to any school and be accepted.

What does ‘British’ look like?

Yes, I get asked, "Where are you am from" all the time by other Asian people, and the Midlands is never the answer they are interested in. Mostly it's a friendly/curious if irritating (for me) conversation. "Muslims" and "harassment" are not part of my post, those are your words.

The BBC news output doesn’t skew left at all. In terms of art and drama there’s an argument to be made, but not for news.

Because the op hasn’t done anything wrong. She wants to talk about the problems her dc are facing.

Greek?

I don't doubt your experience. Long story short, my great grandmother was Jewish from around Minsk and ended up in Broughton. My grandad had two sisters and one brother who had dark curly hair and dark features but my grandad, his sister, and youngest brother were strawberry blonde and fairly pale. My mum is a blue-eyed blonde but tanned, I was very pale (inherited from my Irish dad) with very dark curly hair, my son ended up with my curly dark hair, dark skin and dark brown eyes (inherited from his Irish dad).

Never assumed my son looked particularly Jewish. Went through Catholic high school (we're not Catholic) with no problem, but then when he started college with a different demographic, he started to get jokes about his "Jew fro" and about not having to study as his grades were promised to him 3000 years ago. So original. My son's got an Irish surname and has just told people that he's mostly Irish, which is true. If it wasn't true, I don't know if the "banter" would become less jokey. It must be terrifying living with that reality. That's just what a non-Jewish child gets.

Travelled quite a bit with my son and he could have "passed" in the Balkans (but maybe not Serbia), Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Spain, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Malta. Not been to Bulgaria.

I really hope everything works out for you and your kids.

So many people being (deliberately?) obtuse on this thread. I'm sorry your children are going through this.

Why are posters making points like this when in reality many people experience bullying based on ethnicities. Some Jewish people can be easily identified than others, so what. OP’s kids can be identified.

Why are people sidetracking by asking op about the British look, etc? Is making points so important?

Just wanted to express my support, OP. I’m appalled that this has become rife in the UK, in this day and age. No child should have to hide their background in school.

Like pps, I strongly suspect there’s some wilful refusal on this thread to accept that certain demographics might be bigoted, since it ruins the narrative of the victim hierarchy they’ve chosen to believe in.

I’d agree with those suggesting Catholic schools, if it’s possible for you. Back in the 70s and 80s when I was at school I recall it being strongly instilled that Jesus was Jewish, so persecution of the Jewish people was akin to persecuting JC himself. Overall the ethos when I was at a Catholic school (admittedly over 30 years ago!) was one of tolerance for all.

Being anti-Farage and being antisemitic are not mutually exclusive positions. Quite the opposite I’d say.
This is about the OPs children’s experience of racism from other children. It’s abhorrent. But posters blaming the far left are just using this as a political weapon - you’ll note Farage has only been raised as a counter t9 a view that it’s those horroble lefties again. Echoing a PP, I’m pretty far left and neither I nor any of the left wing people I know are antisemitic. Not even in a ‘being ignorant of the issue’ way.
OP you have to take your daughter out of that school and report the teacher you referred to (and any others who have done similar) to authorities above the school leadership. I was a teacher for 35 years and I’m aware that some teachers (as with some of any group) can be racist - I’ve helped pupils address the issues created from time to time over the years. I haven’t dealt with antisemitic racism specifically, largely because I haven’t taught in areas with significant Jewish populations, but the principal is the same. All kinds of prejudice are increasing at the moment. It’s scary.

Could you claim to be Assyrian Christians? But to have lo⁷st touch with the language. Failing that I'd say the family was originally Italian or Spanish and I'd be prepared to change my surname accordingly. If changing first names would help I'd be prepared to do that too. And I wouldn't discount a small discreet cross or crucifix for your daughter either if it would help keep her safe. It's awful you have to do this but I'd do anything to keep my family safe.

If it’s in a society manifesto they can do a lot more than that. There are strict rules.

And for the absolute avoidance of doubt, I am not talking about ordinary & even secular Muslims. I am talking about households/families with strong Islamicist views - like the Islamicists who forced a teacher in Bradford to go into hiding, and that teacher is still in hiding.

Such denial. It was definitely said, he hasn’t denied it. He said it was ‘jokes’. And he wasn’t a child. It continued into sixth form - and that wasn’t 50 years ago since he’s only just over 60. Minimising racism isn’t a good look. Particularly as it’s just been reported that he’s made several of those Cameo videos for actual Nazis.

I'm so sorry for your kids and you. You have responded to this thread admirably.
I do think it is worse in London. I understand that it feels victim blaming to suggest moving schools (or even where you are). It's also not a long term solution to the problems society is facing with anti semitism and good old fascism. However this isn't about the broader problems it's about your kids now. And I do think that it might be easier specifically in a Catholic school or a C of E school.
Or further out of London in the suburbs. It's not giving up to keep your kids safe.
(Like many others I am horrified at this, absolutely not acceptable from the teachers or kids. Im so sorry!)