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.

Four men arrested in antisemitism video investigation www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57137151

@TheVanguardSix

OP, my God, your fear is palpable. I am afraid for all Jews. When I saw that anti-Semitic convoy in the news and heard about the rabbi's beating, my heart absolutely sank.

why is it always about raping women?

Because Judaism comes through us. Because mothers continue the history (in every culture), carry the babies that grow up to continue the story. How do you destroy history and render your male enemies impotent? Rape and kill the women and children. It happens in every single war.

I don't think it's that 'deep' – it's all just an excuse to bring in some good old misogyny as well. State any opinion on a male-dominated board that someone disagrees with and you'll get bombarded with rape threats. Refuse to date/sleep with some of these types of people? Rape threats. Mention anything that has got to do with women's rights on some of these popular platforms? Rape threats. It's the same here I reckon.

That aside, we see this sort of thing happen time and time again and it's baffling how some people don't seem to have learnt anything. Islamophobia after terrorists attacks, anti-Chinese attacks because apparently everyone ethnically Chinese personally brought the coronavirus into the country, and now, Jewish people being harassed on the basis that they're Jewish. Just horrible.

@Annoymoususer

Let’s stick to the point of the thread that there is a young woman living in the uk in 2021 who is being persecuted for something she has no control over and is happening thousands of miles away.

@Elladisenchanted forgot to say I recall you from an AMA thread a while back and so you were so interesting and patient. Sending you a virtual 🤗

@NickyHeath

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.

Me too.

I am so sorry for what you are going through, selfishly I hope you don’t go - we really would be a lesser country without you.

@ginoclocksomewhere

Nice gerbil is that Larry? That sounds an awful lot like a modern Kristallnacht.

OP I'm so sorry you're having to feel this way. Absolutely do not condone the Israeli govt, but what that has to do with British Jews (or, in fact, non-govt Israeli Jews!) I do not know. Wishing you all the best.

No not recently! 1994. I had to change bus at North Finchley for work and it was a massive mess. 2 girls were injured in a car that was passing at the time.

There's hardly any pics of it on the net which is odd. Presumably because no mobile phones.

It went off at night I heard it 4 miles away.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_London_Israeli_Embassy_bombing

@Tealightsandd

Silence from Andy Burnham as well and we all know GMP is in a mess being in special measures.

Andy Burnham. Man of the people...or not as it seems.

Clearly not if you’re Jewish.

As a British Muslim, of Palestinian heritage,

Who is Frankly very distressed about what’s happening in Palestine,

I would like to assure you that I abhor the fact anyone would make such threats to the Jewish community in the name of justice,

I’m glad they were persecuted. And I will personally ensure I would do everything within my means to ensure they’re publically condemned and their actions are shamed within the community.

Violations of human rights and racism is never acceptable.

And I do hope that, anyone also sympathising with the violations of Palestinian human rights is also challenged within the community.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4246199-Discussing-Palestinian-Oppression-part-2?msgid=107417640#107417640

. Sorry for everything you’re going through. It’s horrible and it’s about time antisemitism was taken as seriously as racism.

I sincerely hope that this de-escalates quickly-there is no place in the UK for this abhorrent behaviour.

This thread is an eye opener. Is the anti semitism on MN reflective of the general population? I feel it's a generation thing. Is it ignorance? Why do people confuse the government of Israel with a cohort of British people who happen to follow a particular religeon?
I grew up in the 60s and 70s and it feels to me like attitudes have changed dramatically and there is a huge increase in anti semitism.

I see a lot of posts saying it's ethnic cleansing and British should speak out.

How many of you who were around in 1995 spoke out about Srebrenica? At the time. To condemn the actions of the Serbs (Christian) against the Muslims in Bosnia.

I didn't. Should I have done? I knew it was awful. How awful was only reported on years later- the world sat back.

I had no idea I was supposed to think that I should vocally decry it as otherwise people might think I supported it.

In short.

The amount of racism I've seen on MN in the last year is grim.

The amount of antisemitism on this thread and others is grim.

More than grim. Appalling. As in, I'm disgusted.

MN is extremely anti Semitic, it always has been. There are a few posters who are balanced and sensible but pretty much any post equates Judaism with Israel and is always caveated with I like Jews. You can stay here if you like missing the point that many of us are 4th or 5th gen British and must always add, but we hate the Israeli government

Does nobody here understand why most British Jews even if they disagree with the actions of the Israeli government still defend it? It’s exactly because of what we see today, the blatant anti Semitism bit more disturbingly the educated Jeremy corbyn loving anti Semitism which is disguised by a thinly veiled “I’m not anti Semitic I’m anti Zionist” . Zionism is the the belief that Israel has a right to exist regardless of anything.

We support Israel despite its faults, and trust me I’m no fan of Netanyahu and neither am I a fan of hamas who are raining rockets on Israel as we speak but it’s precisely because of this anti Semitic behaviour in the U.K. which if it carries on much longer we will all have no choice but I get the first plane out there to escape what is kicking off here.

I don’t mean it has the right to exists regardless of anything. I mean it has the right to exist as a basic principle - very badly worded

To be clear, I don’t think the OP should apologise for the Israeli government, or feel the need to personally condemn them.

As a Catholic living in NI, I’ve never felt the need to make it clear that I don’t support the IRA. The IRA have frig all to do with me. I’m sure a lot of British Jews don’t feel connected to Israel in any way (also: don’t some Jews believe that the promised land is elsewhere, anyway?).

I did state in my post that I don’t support the recent actions of the Israeli government, but I meant that to clarify that I am not against protests in general, but very much against anti-Semitism and hate speech.

@Firstbornunicorn I’m sure a lot of British Jews don’t feel connected to Israel in any way (also: don’t some Jews believe that the promised land is elsewhere, anyway?).

Those who don’t will be in the minority - the vast vast majority of British Jews do have an connection to Israel. Some don’t but it would be unusual to have none. However most have opinions on the government and whilst many don’t support the government you’d be hard pushed to find many who don’t believe in the state of Israel as a principle

@Nataliafalka does being anti-Zionist make you anti-Semitic? I don’t really see that. I’m not even anti-Zionist, but I just don’t equate Judaism with the actual government of Israel. I guess my religion comes from Rome (well, actually, it kind of comes from Israel too, lol), but I don’t feel any affinity with the Italian government, nor particularly with that of the Vatican. Religion and politics are different, no?

To those saying MN is antisemitic-

It has a very very large membership.

I'd say that posts on here probably represent a reflection of views.

It's also often accused of being lefty and London centric.

So in that case if the levels of antisemitism on here are what lefty wing London women think. I don't know obv but I'd guess the population as a whole could be worse.

OTOH the response (or lack of it) from labour on antisemitism was shocking.

So it's possible left leaning sites are worse.

I have no fucking idea tbh but I feel so angry.

There is no place for this kind of behaviour in the UK. Regardless of the reasons, if we believe in tolerance and respect, it must be tolerance and respect for all. I would like a stronger message from the UK government to state, "This is unacceptable here..."

@Nataliafalka that makes sense, thank you. I do think most people believe in the right of Israel to exist...most people where I live, anyway! I need to do more research as I do find it all very interesting. I didn’t realise until recently that Rastafarians refer to Jewish symbolism when talking about Zion; I thought they LITERALLY also wanted Israel as their homeland.

Apologies for my ignorance. Where I grew up was quite insular, but I’m trying to educate myself.

So sorry to hear what you've experienced op. No one should feel threatened like that in the UK.

Hope the police stamp hard on threats and prosecute those responsible.

I’m really sorry this is happening to you, feeling afraid to walk your local streets and live your life is just absolutely terrible. I hope you, your family and wider community all stay safe.

The UK government and police forces need to make a very clear statement about how utterly unacceptable anti-Semitism is and follow it through with action.

Given a high proportion of muslims are extremely anti Semitic, these protests are just an excuse for some to spew their anti Semitic bile angry the question is where in the world is safe for Jews?

That is an islamophobic comment.
How double standards of you.
Reporting

@DeepThinkingGirl

Given a high proportion of muslims are extremely anti Semitic, these protests are just an excuse for some to spew their anti Semitic bile angry the question is where in the world is safe for Jews?

That is an islamophobic comment.
How double standards of you.
Reporting

I expected it would be reported and promptly deleted. Doesn’t stop it being true though. What islamic countries are Jews allowed in? Having an Israeli passport stamp bans you from entering many!