Scared to be Jewish

We also don't feel safe - particularly when we have Jews in our community, who are pillars of our community tweeting about how they are "normal Jews and not Orthodox Jews"...

We have been insulted on the tube, we've had to make changes to our lives, and have increased security in and around our home/garden.

I'm so sorry that you and other Jewish people in UK are having to deal with this OP 💐

Jewish weddings at the synagogue need security. Paid for by the bride and groom..was told that by the synagogue.

Whilst I do understand your anxiety as much as any outsider can, please be assured that most of us at least can separate Israeli political and military acts from Judaism. One is a religion the other is a country. I can also separate Hamas from Islam.

As an expression of peace and hope my friend (Christian Vicar in dog collar) march holding hands with his local iman and local rabbi on Saturday, behind them were people of all faiths and none. I like many want peace and care deeply for the innocent and that includes you op, my prayers may not seem to be being answered but I have to keep faith that someone will bring this situation to a resolution

I’m in a comparable position OP, and feel the same. It’s not that I think Hamas is going to open a south London office, it’s that what’s happening in the ME has led to a demonstrable rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia across the world - and that does affect me directly.

Should we be careful about this user name 'immigrant002'.

If someone was trying to make mumsnet posters think all immigrants hold antisemitic or unkind views would they not make a user name like this???

Sorry immigrant002 if you are a real person but the name makes my head ring alarm bells that you are in fact an anti immigrants type trying to be sly

personally feel hamas said that in context of all jews in world has right to have piece of land in Israel/westbank etc. So if you are feared that responsibility goes to who caused for it right?

I now think one of my school buddy could be jews, am dreading to ask. worried that she would be willing to move than I worried about risk for her from hamas. This is all because of the news that Jews around her waiting to migrate and settle.

if my friend is Jew, I wish her to stick with her current home country and people. You have two choices like anyone else over here. Forget about Israel and hamas and live your life. OR worry about hamas and join hands with others who wants hamas and gaza to be their prisoners.

@immigrant002 read about the 23 And Me hack.

And it's not just Hamas. There is a dangerous degree of antisemitism playing out across Europe. I'm not saying we are being individually hunted down but why should we feel unsafe going to synagogue, going to a BarMitzvah, at school, in my local bakery for gods sake. And yes, I've felt nervous in all those places and on the tube this week.

Diminish it all you like and then walk in my shoes for a week. I am the least high drama person you'll ever meet, if anything I'm the person downplaying risks to the community but you have no idea what it feels like to be Jewish right now.

@immigrant002 Do you actually believe that you a jew in UK are in danger of hamas ? Because they can trace jews ?

Do you live under a rock? the Op is sadly right to be scared. We have huge problems here and in Europe with islamic terrorism. Paris Attacks, the London Bombings, Manchester Bombing, Belgium, Charlie Hebdo Attacks. So many yet police allow people to wave the isis flag and chant for jihad openly. Its scary for all of us let alone Jews. If i was Jewish i wouldn't be walking around with any identifiers. Its sad, awful and unfair but i think many of us have been shocked by the anti Jewish sentiment in this country especially on the left.

Why cant Hamas attack here, one of their leaders lives here.

I think the op believes that Hamas apologises and supporters in the UK. Are a threat to Jews as we as a rise in Jew hate around the world. Plus the Hamas ex leader when calling for Jihad talked about it Hamas having bigger plans than just Israel/Gaza after victory. He was talking global and that means people like op are bound to be worried about global exsteme Islam considered they are a tad negative about us Jews.

Do you actually believe that you a jew in UK are in danger of hamas ? Because they can trace jews ?
I

I only discovered that I have Jewish heritage a few months ago (great grandfather back in the 1880s) so I don’t class myself as Jewish at all but it has prompted a curiosity about the culture and religion. I’ve obviously never experienced any anti semitism but the conflict going on at the moment has opened my eyes to how common it is but also how people try to hide it in an almost sneaky way. Sorry you feel like this (and it’s entirely justified). I just hope there is a swift and peaceful end to the whole thing before more lives on both sides are killed.

Interesting twist on my post and assumption about what I think

I said "Oh and you will get it carefully explained that Arabs have more rights to the land than Jews and no they don't have to share anything if they don't want too etc".
Which obviously means I am saying the people currently living their have equal rights to their houses and land.

Obviously I don't mean settlements in West bank. Frankly I have not met many Jews that think more settlements should be built. The west bank does contain thousands of Jews that have leaved their for generations but were ethnically cleansed by Jordan in 1948. They returned in the 60s to 70s to there homes. These Jews should be allowed to share the west bank with Arabd as they always did.

Let's try not to derail the op's thread

You are not overreacting - it must be absolutely terrifying and I am so sorry.

@Sexnotgender sadly I think it could be many places. I married into Jewish family and now am much more aware of the horrendous anti-semitic attacks in Europe in recent years in places that I would have previously considered completely unthreatening places - the ones that spring to mind are the murder of the Holocaust survivor in Paris a few years ago and the shooting of primary school children in south of France - but obviously there’s a lot more if you Google. Yes isolated incidents and probably mentally ill perpetrators, but it’s very very frightening right now.

Its awful you feel that way.
Thinking there will be a round up of jews AKA WW2 is maybe ott but fear will do that to you.

Its idiots thinking this way about innocent jewish people

Netanyahu is acting like a lunatic with no regard to war crimes and fearing no retribution/ critique from Biden or the EU. He is disgusting and I hope he is tried for crimes against humanity in due course.

People in the street can see whats being done in Gaza and to both sides and how wrong it is and feel helpless. No excuse at all for how you are feeling. Im sorry. The blame is on netanyahu and Hammas

If people wanted to stay in their homes, where they have been for generations, and if they wanted to resist being enthnic cleansed out of it and over to border, why would you find that somehow unreasonable? You expect the Palestinians to put up with it, when for example the English never would tolerate it.

Regarding blending in, I live in an area with a small Jewish population and most people wouldn't assume I'm Jewish. If I lived somewhere like London or Manchester where they know more Jewish people then they'd probably realise I'm Jewish.

Oh my goodness, where do you live that armed security is needed, I’m so sorry that’s awful.

@Waitymatey I’m not the OP but I would have thought unlikely to be private security, rather police - the U.K. has made provision for additional security guards at synagogues, as well as Jewish schools, because of a very steep rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7th. This has happened all over Europe.

I am also 'married out' and non religious but embrace my culture and heritage. So basically I take the bits I want and like. That doesn't make me less a Jew.
I am frightened and I live in a very non Jewish area in the uk.
I don't think people understand. I was brought up in the shadow of the Holocaust and am very pro Israel.
It seems churlish to complain of anti semitism in the Uk when all people in Israel and Gaza are suffering so badly.

I'm so sorry you feel this way OP. But you need to know that very many people love and cherish our Jewish friends and neighbours and know that that our world would be much poorer without you. I'll always stand with Jewish people and so will all my friends and family.

It's horrendous that people living far away from anything happening in the ME would be targeted in any way. It's like an English person living in Spain and being targeted for something Boris did, it just make no sense (to me).

You sound like such a lovely person OP. I hope things are resolved and you can feel at peace again soon.