I'm a scared British Jew

[Elladisenchanted]

As I'm writing this, I've had another whats app messagw asking for prayers for a rabbi in London hospitalised, who has just been beaten up. I'm scared.

I'm getting messages from my synagogue and kids schools about walking in groups for safety. Neighborhood group posting pics of cars where I live smashed up. People driving by waving Palestinian flags and screaming anti semitic abuse and entering shops intimidating people. This is Manchester not London, where it's even worse.
I've been sent screenshots of Facebook posts with comments like rape Jewish women. Rape their mothers. Rape their daughters. Not rape the Israelis. Rape the Jews. British Jews.

I'm preparing for the shavuous festival and at 8.50 pm I'll be turning off my phone for just over two days and be cut off from social media and news. But I'm dreading what I'll see when I go back online on Tuesday night. I'm sending my husband to the synagogue with my heart in my mouth. This isn't the first time. It won't be the last.

I'm the last of my British family still here and as much as I love my country I don't know how much longer I want to stay here.

Not sure why I'm posting this. Just feeling despair that this never ends.

I’m so sorry x.
I don’t know what else to say, but I am ashamed that you and your community are being made to feel this way and being made to suffer like this.
I am sorry.

You are not alone.

Massive sympathy here. You’ve got through far worse and you will get through this.

I'm so sorry

You are not the Israeli government- almost no one among your community agrees with them

Try to take care, report any incidents to the police, go out in groups rather than alone

Peace be with you

People do horrible things to each other. They always have and they always will. You might want to step away from this thread early or have it deleted before you go. There will be many posters here that show you no empathy and even worse. You can do better things than come back here in 48 hours and see the vitriole.

Same.

Don't support the Israeli government in any way but I'm so scared at the moment.

I'm so sorry you're being made to feel this way. Jews are welcome in the UK and we'd be the poorer without you here. Please don't let some bigots force you out.

Shocking, i hope you see no dangers in real life. Sometimes the internet is not helpful.

I'm so sorry OP. I am not Jewish but moved to the UK from a place with a much bigger Jewish population and am always shocked at the antisemitism here.

I’ve got some very dear friends in Palestine and I’ve been following recent developments with horror but how utterly appalling to hear about the British Jewish community being targeted. I’m so sorry wishing you and your community peace and safety at this difficult time.

@CommunistLegoBloc
@NutellaEllaEll unfortunately we are seeing violence and aggression near us in real life not the Internet. The smashed cars were on the road where relatives live. The aggression and intimidation was in a shop across the road from the school where I work ( 2 minute walk).
I just feel sick

Chag sameach OP. Can we have the rabbi's name for Mi Sheberach please.

Sorry, OP.

I’m not surprised you’re apprehensive. Dh and I always wonder why everyone’s so nasty to Jewish people.

I think the Israeli governments being restrained considering how many rockets the Palestinians are firing at them. That iron dome defence system is amazing.

FWIW also terrified here too. I teach in London and whilst my colleagues are willing to engage in respectful discussion, the students are very much one sided. It's hard to discuss it with them. I don't know what to do, how to educate, without coming across as biased.

@Britsy are you saying that it's ok to attack innocent people thousands of miles away from Israel because of what is happening over there?

I'm so sorry this is happening OP. The whole situation is just awful and it's absolutely terrible that anyone- wherever they live should be living in fear.

I agree with this too Jews are welcome in the UK and we'd be the poorer without you here. Thinking of all caught up in the conflict in the ME and horrified by the anti semitism here.

While I don’t agree with the Israeli govts actions I am genuinely sorry you and your community are being targeted like this.

I’m so sorry. Agree re situation in Manchester - witnessed this in Rusholme on Thursday.

What I’ve seen tonight on social media sickens me.

The police have put out a statement saying they will ‘engage’ with the protesters.

Goodness knows quite what this means, but I’ve a feeling these men will be treated with kid gloves compared to how they acted at say the Sarah Everard peaceful vigil.

It makes me sick.

💐

I'm so sorry that you can't feel safe in the UK. It's a dreadful state of affairs. Unfortunately there will always be some vile people who hold anti semitic views. The only thing you can do is to keep as safe as you can. Sending hugs.

@Britsy that may be so, but if people feel strongly about it they should petition the Israeli government to cease their actions against Palestine, rather than attacking British Jews!? Or do you believe that you should lay the blame for the Israeli government on all Jews everywhere? Should the actions of all Catholic priests be blamed on all Catholics everywhere? Don't talk such rot.