Scared to be Jewish

This, I worry if a Jewish poster attack me with anti-semitism etc then I wonder what should I name it? I am also human belong to one race/country/ethinic minority which she doesn't even know.

Op I understand why you feel as you do

It’s extremely concerning

Just hearing what people are experiencing

The muslims trying to storm the plane in Dagestan recently which was carrying jews from Tel Aviv is symptomatic. If they just kneeled down and prayed at the airport for their cause no one would have too much of a problem with it as long as they were not blaming individual jews.

I am Christian and also support Israel as do many of us in the West and any anti semitism is illegal in the UK. Apparently a male NHS doctor very near to me, if newspaper reports are right, is a leading Hamas supporter. https://metro.co.uk/2023/10/29/leader-of-group-that-celebrated-hamas-attacks-is-nhs-gp-under-different-name-19737304/

Also three NHS doctors in the UK have been reported to the medical authorities one saying no Israelis deserve to live. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/28/nhs-doctors-reported-anti-semitic-social-media-israel/

I appreciate all sides have strong views, but they must not tip over into breach of British law and if our enforcement of the law enrages some groups in the UK then I would rather we dealt with that rage than kow tow to law breakers.

However I am always in favour of freedom of speech and religion as long as within the law so it is certainly a difficult balance for the state to get right. We chose to let into the UK a very large number of people who do not share our values, sometimes simply because they were conditioned as children and not well educated and sometimes it is not a good thing.

@Ginlette The quiet strength of your post is very moving. The West has lost its mind over this issue and what is particularly terrifying is that people can’t seem to see that the Iranian supported Hamas movement is an attack on the western values of democracy, equality and freedom.

Israel is the only functioning democracy in the Middle East and the only one that affords equal rights to women and gay people. Ever since it’s inception it has been subjected to relentless and violent attacks, hence the military checkpoints etc.

I’m pleased to read your reference to the enormous contribution of the Jewish community to western values. Albert Einstein, Gloria Steinem, Stephen Sondheim, Bob Dylan - I could name hundreds without even pausing.

Every country has the right to defend itself and its citizens.

Sickening to compare that Russian people living here rightly are not threatened yet Jewish people are?

Russian people were actually targeted at the start of the conflict, Russian flags ripped down, and many suffered quite violent attacks.

We have Russian friends who left London for a while because of the vitriol.

@queenofarles apologies, I didn't word that well - you are correct of course, these values are actual global values for many cultures.

Agree with every word Ginlette. Many dear friends are Jewish feel for them. It’s not their fault. Sickening to compare that Russian people living here rightly are not threatened yet Jewish people are? Think on that.

There isn't one Hamas HQ. There is a whole network. They need to take out all Hamas's capability - miles of tunnels, logistics, ammo storage, equipment, generators, rocket launchers, and all the hoarded supplies & fuel, all deliberately spread around Gaza in amongst civilians who, don't forget, Hamas are forcing to stay in place.

I'm Jewish but I know many muslims also hold and practice these values. They too uphold western values.

these are eastern/Islamic Values too.

I feel sorry for anyone feeling unsafe at the moment , no one should be sacred to show their faith, or should be punished or made to feel guilty for who they are.
but I can’t help but notice the not so thinly vailed racism and Islamophobia on display here.

Posted since the Hamas atrocity but after IDF response. I've not approached the issue at all - I had no narrative ready to go - I was expecting (it was linked in ffs) a considered balanced response.
Love the fact you now can't judge the response when on less information you were prepared to be highly judgemental

I think the only way this ends is when all parties put down arms and obey international law and UN resolutions. Unfortunatly, I don't think either side is going to do that
I agree with you.

Until people, especially the people with power, start focusing on the civilians who are being harmed I don't think this is going to get any better. The implications are far reaching to our Muslim and Jewish citizens around the world too who will have to living with rising antisemitism and islamophobia.

I also fear that the response to this situation is going to leave a lot of fertile ground for radicalisation. You might be able to blow a lot of people up, starve them to death, withdraw basic provisions like water, displace them, try force them to neighbouring countries, but you can't kill an ideology with bombs.

Netanyahu might get his scorched earth and some more land to occupy, but at what cost to Israelis moving forward, at what cost to the Palestinian people, and at what cost to Muslims and Jews around the world?

They should have stormed the Hamas HQ and taken them down. There have been zero attempts of this so far, Israel seem to much prefer killing civilians.

The reason Jewish people in the UK uphold western values is that western values ARE Jewish values. Respect, tolerance, charity; I'm Jewish but I know many muslims also hold and practice these values. They too uphold western values.

I know people who are both Jewish and Muslim who don't hold onto these values in times of crisis, largely due to heightened emotional states (understandably) and horrendous reporting from both several media sources which massively inflames the situation. There is also the case of misinformation and people not understanding that history didn't start 75 years ago...

Those messages are probably in response to the latest Hamas atrocity, right? In the face of such extreme barbarity they are totally reasonable and understandable. In the immediate aftermath of something so horrific no sensible or humane person would wade in with any sort of 'both sides' argument. I don't know any of the wider context, for example how you have approached the issue in the past, so can't possibly judge those responses any further.

I take real solace from these words. Thank you.

The reason Jewish people in the UK uphold western values is that western values ARE Jewish values. Respect, tolerance, charity.

"there is no grey zone. You are either on the side of light or you are aligned with darkness"
"if you are tempted to reply to this with any form of condemnation of israel or attempts at "context" please terminate our connection or I will "
"if you want to advocate for proportionality in Israels response please terminate our connection"

There's not a shadow of a doubt in my mind as to who i stand with. I think our Jewish community is to be cherished and protected.
I believe the idea of a nation or homeland for a religion is hugely important, and I believe Israel has a right to take whatever measures needed to protect that when it is threatened to the degree it was with the slaughtering and torturing of its young people on that fateful day.

I am disgusted by what I see as a complete regression in our society with the levels of antisemitism happening across the UK. I urge everybody to listen to the latest episode of question time on BBC, the one recorded in Sheffield. One of the panellists (and he points this out, quite astounded) mentions Hamas as a terrorist organisation, and this invites aggressive heckling from one woman. As he himself says, it's interesting that THIS is the comment that attracts the ire. We have now reached the stage in our society apparently where one religion is afforded an absolute gold pass: I completely and utterly stand against fundamentalist ideologies that would seek not only to obliterate Israel, but should that mission be completed, to eradicate everything the west stands for too.

I believe that in the west we have been too lenient in providing space and consideration for death cults. I stand with Israel in its attempt to prevent its own physical annihilation, and am deeply saddened that in our western societies we have apparently allowed our own metaphysical annihilation to take place.

The Jewish community has brought to our wider society nothing but peace and as I see it a disproportionate contribute to the arts, culture, philosophy and science. The Jewish community has been WITHOUT EXCEPTION a friend, supporter and direct contributer to Western Values. That's a lot more than can be said for other sections of our society, and I cannot understand for the life of me why that hasn't been understood.

Actually I can. If its any consolation to any Jewish people reading this: I believe my perspective is the mainstream one, but unfortunately (and this is what I'd like to understand) it can't be voiced. But as we see time and time again in politics, don't worry about the vocal minority although I imagine you must feel afraid.

Please be confident that the vast silent majority respect and care for you. Its just that as you will hear on that Any Questions episode, the faintest whiff of speaking out against the organisations and philosophies that seek to undermine us results in a complete shutdown.

I stand with Israel and everything it represents and am doing my best to stand with the Jewish community although in today's climate, doing so is worryingly hard.

I agree, I know a lot of Jewish people and never come across one that wasn't very happy to debate & criticise Israeli politics or have an open discussion about how Israel should respond to the existential threat it has always faced. I suspect the conversation narrows because of the way this person frames their crticism of Israel. It makes a huge difference.

How should Israel have reacted to the atrocities caused by Hamas? But for the actions of hamas none of this would be happening

@Commonhousewitch
but i have Jewish acquaintances/contacts who tell me that if i doubt/question anything that Israel is doing then i am antisemitic/holocaust denier/Hamas supporter etc.

Nope not buying that. You've either made it up/twisted it to embellish your point, or you simply aren't listening to them properly because you have your own narrative already. I don't know any Jewish people who would come out with that, because Jews know that questioning anything Israel do is not antisemitic, let alone holocaust denial. Most UK Jews are in despair at Israel's ultra right wing govt and have been for many, many years. You just keep putting words in our mouths for us, and then cry you're being "silenced". It's becoming such a manipulative tactic and trope now.

The problem is that both sides conflate Israel and Jews. So people who hate what israel are doing, target Jews anywhere (or use it as an excuse) - but i have Jewish acquaintances/contacts who tell me that if i doubt/question anything that Israel is doing then i am antisemitic/holocaust denier/Hamas supporter etc.
I'm not - but as a non-jew i'm being silenced- moderate views are being silenced.
this isn't/shouldn't be Jews against non-jews , It should be normal people against murdering bastards extremist of all colours. i do think the unwavering support of the US and UK has made it worse- no-one should support any country without question/unwaveringly

There were 1652 Anti-Semitic incidents reported to the Community Security Trust in the United Kingdom in 2022, compared with 2261 in 2021 (from https://www.statista.com/statistics/383740/antisemitic-incidents-reported-uk-y-on-y/) 

Between April 2021 and March 2022 there were 3,459 hate crimes committed against Muslims in England and Wales, (from www.statista.com/statistics/623880/islamophobic-hate-crimes-england-and-wales/#:~:text=Number%20of%20hate%20crime%20offences%20against%20Muslims%20England%20and%20Wales%202017%2D2022&text=Between%20April%202021%20and%20March,in%20the%20previous%20reporting%20year.)

The total number of people self-identifying as Jews in England and Wales in 2021 was 271,327. (from https://www.jpr.org.uk/reports/jews-britain-2021-first-results-census-england-and-wales)

proportion of the overall population who identified as “Muslim” increased from 4.9% (2.7 million) in 2011 to 6.5% (3.9 million) in 2021. (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/articles/religionbyageandsexenglandandwales/census2021#:~:text=Download%20the%20data,-.xlsx&text=It%20is%20important%20to%20note,(3.9%20million)%20in%202021.) 

So do all those saying you are far more likely to experience Islamophobia if your Muslim, then this isn't correct - statistically across the populations, as a percentage you are far more less likely from how i understand these numbers (I'm pretty unwell now so feel free to correct me)

He should be fired and shamed.

Should we start hitting Muslimsin uk because of what hamas did? Why when is about Jews people think it's OK to hurt them?

I'm not Jewish but I find disgusting how people normalise antisemitism.

I’m so sorry you feel this way. I don’t think it’s likely to happen but I understand why you are worried. We are currently seeing the depths of anti-Semitism that still lurks - even here in the UK.

For me, it’s telling that you feel you have to start your post with a declaration of support for Palestine etc. Israel has a right to exist as a nation and to defend itself, particularly against a terrorist organisation which wants to kill all the Jews.

I have Jewish friends who feel unsafe - here in the UK. This shaming for the rest of us. I’m so sorry.