Scared to be Jewish

It’s awful. I know. My Arab Muslim children and family (as well as many thousands of others);have had to face this for years when visiting and living in the West for various reasons. In fact my son when at Uni in Scotland was attacked on a bus because he had a backpack and he was having a conversation with his friend in Arabic. The driver stopped the bus and the attackers jumped off. It all went to court though as a hate crime after the PF pressed charges. The attackers were found guilty but my son and his friend got more satisfaction out of the hiding they gave two of the attackers.

Muslims have walked a very hard road for many years when in the West, especially since the 9/11 atrocities, and I can say without a doubt they’ll understand how you feel right now.

Its awful. Isn’t it.

Here we have a hat trick. One against Jewish people, one against Muslims, one who thinks we should nuke them both. I didn't even go looking for this.

x.com/zattowangai/status/1718716834126430547?s=46&t=G9BWOZlYGPa1_pR7aKkbHQ

x.com/louisru39958153/status/1718659972811403677?s=46&t=G9BWOZlYGPa1_pR7aKkbHQ

x.com/geocryptoaries/status/1718674348306035115?s=46&t=G9BWOZlYGPa1_pR7aKkbHQ

I wear a small Magen David, it was a gift from my mother, it is not a giant flashing neon "I'm Jewish" sign but it's reasonably obvious if you are looking.

I work in a very public facing role.

My DH suggested to me I might want to not wear it, or at least make sure it was covered, to avoid drawing any additional attention to my Jewishness.

I'm not living in fear exactly but I am much more aware of how being Jewish can make me a target. More cautious. Antisemitism is something I have experienced before and has always been a background threat, but now it is a foreground threat. The Internet in particular, is a pretty awful place to be right now. Incidents like the 23 and me hack too serve as a reminder of vulnerability, where maybe I had felt complacent and comfortable, expecting only the rarest of incidents. It brings into focus the generational trauma and the lasting impact that has.

"Part of me would not be at all surprised if the Russians were directing that lynch mob because they really hate Israel and are really looking to stoke divisions at the moment. " @Esmacannonball.

Russia (as a nation) hating Israel is not strictly true. The Russia/Israel relationship is now better than it has ever been. Russia is Israels largest supplier of oil and Israel sells Russia quite a lot of military hardware. In addition there are many other lucrative economic deals, including uncut diamonds

Israel initially refused to criticise Putin's invasion of Ukraine. They subsequently did, but only after many other countries had done so. Remember there are strong ties between the two countries. Russian is the most widely spoken language in Israel after Hebrew and Arabic. Relationships between the two countries have been at their best when Netanyahu has been in power.
Vlad and Bibi..... what an horrific double act.

I'm really sorry. I don't think you are overreacting either.

When war broke out between Ukraine and Russia, I contacted Russian friends in uk. They were horrified and also scared for families on border who wouldn't move. Their young kid faced some shit in school and they had to speak to school. They were grateful for understanding that it wasn't their fault what government did. They live in uk with no influence.

Apparently the plane was diverted. The mob were going around the airport and its environs stopping passengers and cars, looking for Israelis and Jewish people, a number of whom were being protected by armed guards.

@EsmaCannonball I've got a second passport also, for a country that tends to be friendly with Russia and not exactly critical of Hamas. It's effing useless though, need a visa to go anywhere.

I remember at the time of plane-hijackings and hostage-takings thinking it would be a good idea to get an Irish passport (which I was automatically entitled to do). Now I'm glad I've got one.

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.

Given that a resolution actually condemning the 7 October terrorst attacks didn't get voted through by the UN, I really doubt Israel is in any mood to listen to them.

"Gilad Menashe Erdan, the representative of Israel, said the world has witnessed that the United Nations “no longer holds even one ounce of legitimacy or relevance”."

The Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan (an Arab-Israeli Christian) has said that there were six Muslim children from Dagestan on the flight who were returning from being given cancer treatment in Israel.

I don't even know what to say to that

It looks like the situation is still ongong, with mobs dragging people out of cars and attacking police cars.

I need to come off twitter for the evening. Just read about the Yemeni Houthis lobbing a ballistic missile towards Israel (fortunately intercepted), as well as the most upsetting detail yet about one of the 7 October atrocities which I desperately hope is untrue.

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.

Yes, I doubt many Israelis would be flying to Dagestan of all places.

The Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan (an Arab-Israeli Christian) has said that there were six Muslim children from Dagestan on the flight who were returning from being given cancer treatment in Israel.

It is tragic that Jews be targeted for the actions of a government they didn’t elect or a policy they don’t endorse.

It is the same for Palestinians who didn’t elect Hamas, or who did because they were desperate and the non-violent path had given no results. No one should have to pay for the sins of others. It’s absolutely awful on all fronts.

Very sorry to hear that

Imagine if we recieved hate all around the world for what our governments did

Unfortunately we do.
I know some Russians who got abuse when Putin invaded Ukraine and were expected to answer for him. I've traveled extensively around the middle east and had some abuse/felt nervous about being British, especilly when travelling with an American friend. I'm sure it's nothing like the level of racism minorities get here though.

The only way this stops is if Hamas surrenders and the attacks on Israel stop.

So, in response to OP. I don't feel scared to be Jewish. I am visibly Jewish, Orthodox, and work in a Jewish space. Security is a HUGE concern for us right now but for me, its mostly to make other people feel safe. I personally think the risk of a dangerous attack upon me, or my workplace, are pretty low. Its amost certainly more dangerous for me to get in a car or cross the road.

I also think that hiding in my house is just another victory for anti semites.

I do understand why so many people are scared, it is a trauma response, people have seen their loved ones raped, murdered and kidnapped. The same way someone who has almost drowned or been in a car accident might be scared to go to a swimming pool or get in a car.

Where I live (not in the UK) the media is very very anti Israel. The Jewish community is pretty small and invisible and there have been almost no actual antisemitic attacks or incidents that I have heard of, except for people tearing down pictures of kidnapped hostages. (what?why?what is wrong with people???)

OP I think it is appalling that anti-Semitism is on the rise. Very sadly, and terrifyingly, it has been for a number of years. Have we learned nothing from history?

Does anyone know what happened afterwards? Were they escorted out safely?

I haven't been able to find any follow-up information yet.

Does anyone know what happened afterwards? Were they escorted out safely?

The footage from Dagestan is terrifying. Dagestan is an actual colony and its people are currently being used as cannon fodder in the attempt to turn Ukraine back into a colony, but when Russia is the coloniser the 'everything Western is bad' people don't give a damn. Part of me would not be at all surprised if the Russians were directing that lynch mob because they really hate Israel and are really looking to stoke divisions at the moment.

The worst part actually is that there are many people in Israel who don't even agree with many of the actions of their government
This is disgusting
Imagine if we recieved hate all around the world for what our governments did

Anti-semitism long pre dates Netanyahu and Hamas.

Ever heard of the Hebron Massacre, or Chelmitzki massacre, the pogroms in Russia in the ate nineteenth century? Blood Libels? Thats before you get to the Holocaust. Hey, I am only around because Poland in the 1920s was such an antisemitic place my family left.