Hatred of the Jewish Community

@MrsSkylerWhite

"Why? Most non-Jewish people know very little of the history of the Jewish people. Nothing “faux” about that."

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I would suggest that you look at the title and opening paragraph on other threads regarding this topic and see how many start with "excuse may ignorance ", " I don't know much about " "I'm not well educated on ".

A coincidence?

Anti-semetism is racism.

1dayatatime

My concern is that this is "faux ignorance" and intended to whip up unhelpful and hateful opinions rather than genuinely inform.

If that was OP’s intention, it’s failed spectacularly. Informative thread.

You mean like blaming anti-Semitism on Israel and not thr actual anti-Semites?

I'm an atheist of (diluted) Jewish heritage and describe myself as a cultural Christian because I celebrate Christian festivals.

@MrsSkylerWhite

"Unnecessary. It’s a fair question and I imagine most people with no interest either way are also “ignorant” about the history of the Jewish people."

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Except that there has been a very suspiciously high volume of posts on this topic that start with :

"Excuse my ignorance but could someone please explain [insert something controversial].

My concern is that this is "faux ignorance" and intended to whip up unhelpful and hateful opinions rather than genuinely inform.

1dayatatime · Today 09:43

Yoohoo778611 · Today 09:30

@etmoietmoietmoi are you one of the famous Mumsnet bullies.
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No but this is a suspicious post claiming faux ignorance.

Why? Most non-Jewish people know very little of the history of the Jewish people. Nothing “faux” about that.

Well I feel that cos celebrating Christmas is mainstream and commercialised (even i exchange presents and have a tiny christmas tree which i call a hannukah bush lol), people get away with it. I once brought a box of matzah with me on a political canvassing day during passover and people were quite judgy. Keeping passover can absolutely be cultural, its kinda like our Christmas in a sense. But people think i am very religious just because I keep passover.

What is wrong with the term Islamaphobia? At least it is more accurate then the term antisemite. What would you use instead?

etmoietmoietmoi · Today 09:25

FFS. Is this the new "forgive my ignorance"?”

Unnecessary. It’s a fair question and I imagine most people with no interest either way are also “ignorant” about the history of the Jewish people.

OP: there’s a very good series on this topic by Simon Scharma on iplayer. About 10 years old. I can’t remember its exact title but if you just search his name it should come up.

There are absolutely cultural Christians. Many people celebrate Christmas and get married in Churches who may not be religious in any other way.

As a Muslim I can identify with a lot of this post, there is definitely a dislike of anyone doing things differently particularly if outwardly practising a religion. Unfortunately it’s so much a part of everyday life I don’t even identify it by a name as such, just a subtle feeling of ‘othering’ and unease. But I guess it is antisemitism or anti-Muslim feeling (I won’t use the watered down term Islamophobia any more)

I disagree, antisemitism is seen as the worst.

You could be racist, disabilist and islamophobic and still keep your job.

Even on threads here, look how long a thread which is racist against black people gets to stand.

Newspapers can post racist stories and images and get away with it. See many racist cartoon portrayals and articles. Then see if someone will get away posting something antisemitic, they would get fired straight away.

Being called antisemitic is the biggest stain of someone's character and image after that its transphobia.

Yep and then it gets (rightly) deleted by MN.

There have been quite a few "excuse my ignorance " posts recently always on the Middle East topic.

https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/survey-results/daily/2023/10/16/b8bd3/1

I wouldn't say British sentiment is avowedly pro Palestine either, outside of social media, 62% of British people based on polls are not picking a side, they either don't know or they sympathise with both sides equally.

As a Jewish person, I have always felt a lot of antisemitism in the Uk is based on a dislike of religion. People don't understand why someone like me identifies with a religion and I am a liberal Jew. We are an atheist/agnostic country. It is a lot worse for a Jewish person who only eats kosher food with a hechsher and doesn't use electricity on saturday. Even if you aren't religious, people are suspicious of atheists who identify as Jews as they assume that they can't separate cultural judaism from the religion. There are no cultural christians lol as christianity is faith based unlike Judaism which can also be a cultural identity.

I actually think this thread is actually going to bring up a lot of antisemitic tropes and cause upset. I am just as appalled by anti semitism as any other form of racism.

Its interesting that we have a word for discrimination against Jews. Roma people have always been hated and prosecuted in Europe. Killed by the Nazis.
They are still discriminated against, don't have their own country, cannot access education as easily, so don't have as many people speaking up for them.
Just pondering. Bringing up other minorities might give good context?

I read that it's because Jews have such a cohesive culture and strong socio-religious identity, they kept going as a separate group rather than fully assimilating, and as a result suffered prejudice.

Can't be sure now, but I think it was in this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Jews-Antisemitism-Dennis-Prager/dp/0743246209

You misunderstand me - I am only talking about current times, of course antisemitism existed before the creation of Israel and the Holocaust was a crime against humanity.

Why is anti semitism seen as not as bad as racism though? By some people (not me I hasten to add!). Is it because Jewish people have been historically successful (banking). So it’s seen as “punching up”? Not sure. I was listening to David Baddiel and he’s really interesting on this.

I think the current rise of anti semitism is terrifying. And my heart goes out to Jewish people.

@TeacupKitty Jews have been hated and discriminated against for hundreds of years. It doesn't make sense to attribute that to something that began less than a century ago.

No but this is a suspicious post claiming faux ignorance.

Palestine didn't agree to the UN Partition Plan 1947 which would mean the land would be shared between the Jews and Arabs. If they had agreed to this then maybe they wouldn't still be at war with Israel.

Also, Hamas wants an Islamic state and the eradication of the Jews. Where would the Jews go? There are plenty of countries for Islamic populations, but not Jewish.

Jews were expelled from Jerusalem under the Romans due their rebellion of Roman rule. It's really fascinating and caused their diaspora.

I know - makes you wonder if there is a standard playbook to hand or that they are AI generated.

"Ooo excuse my ignorance [in order to get sympathy] I don't know much about the Arab Israeli situation [of course we believe you !] but could someone please explain [insert something emotive].

The post then degenerates into whataboutery followed by conspiracy theories before moving on to outright insults and then it rightly gets pulled by MN. It's basically pointless and just hardens views on both sides rather than a factual based discussion and an understanding of the other side that might just might provide a compromise peaceful solution.