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.

[quote LondonMummer]@Mooncats* seriously?? A lovely show of solidarity driving through a Jewish area screaming "f the Jews and rape their daughters"[/quote]
I said waving flags alone was a lovely show of solidarity . MN deleted all my posts yet this one is allowed to run . Im posting again to clarify that I never said here or anywhere else that rape threats were solidarity .

Fgs1

I think you are hijacking the thread of a non Israeli women to discuss Israeli politics instead of keeping the topic on supporting her and the Jews in the U.K. from being dragged into the topic

If you so wish to discuss Israel and the Middle Eastern Politics you are welcome to join us on this thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4246199-Discussing-Palestinian-Oppression-part-2

One of many Articles about anti Semitic attitudes amongst Muslims www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt16gzdvm

I just saw some news headlines.

Men who make rape threats and death threats towards women in this country should feel the full force of the law.

Utterly vile.

[quote DeepThinkingGirl]Fgs1

I think you are hijacking the thread of a non Israeli women to discuss Israeli politics instead of keeping the topic on supporting her and the Jews in the U.K. from being dragged into the topic

If you so wish to discuss Israel and the Middle Eastern Politics you are welcome to join us on this thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4246199-Discussing-Palestinian-Oppression-part-2[/quote]
No I’m raising the issues of increasingly anti Semitic attitudes in the U.K., and also seen in other European countries like France wherein some areas the Holocaust can’t be taught because the Muslim Children refuse to accept it is true - Holocaust denial. If we don’t tackle this now this could be the situation in the uk before long . www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theatlantic.com/amp/article/370870/

@Firstbornunicorn I think it’s slightly different than equating Rome and catholisism. The modern state of Israel was created after the Second World War although there there was an active movement around it from much earlier, late 19 early 20 century. It’s a country which was populated mainly in the first years by Jews who has survived the Holocaust who did not have a home after they were released from the camps. This was followed almost the entire Jewish population of the Middle East during the 50’s and 60’s who were driven out of their homes too. By the 1980’s they we’re joined by Ethiopian Jews escaping famine and by Russian Jews who had been unable to practice their religion.

Of course there were also those from other countries who came of their own will vit many were escaping persecution. It was a place where they were and are safe to be Jewish. Even if we in Western Europe, America Australia etc have no intention of living there the knowledge that we dan have a home where we will be welcomed is always at the back of our minds and that’s why it’s so important to us that it exists. Whether it should exist in its current structure and government is a whole other question

It is disgusting.
There shouldn’t be any qualifiers on condemnation either.
I do think it’s starting to be seen for what it is by a wider group and the last few years have seen it challenged.
There are still too many mealy mouthed apologists though.
I’m sorry you’re feeling this way.

@Nataliafalka thank you for explaining that. I do have massive empathy for what you are saying.

The founding of the modern Israel itself has been said to be tainted by some anti-Semitic thought, namely that some European leaders thought that granting the Jewish people a homeland would mean they’d be less likely to settle in their countries. I find that a bit grim, to be honest. It seems like it’s really difficult to escape anti-Semitism. That’s not to say that Israel shouldn’t exist or that that was the main reason for its conception; it’s just sad that that would have been a factor.

Rabbi Herschel Gluck, head of a neighbourhood watch group in north-east London,

He added: “It is very important to emphasise in London that the Muslim and Jewish communities stand shoulder to shoulder and in a great spirit of solidarity. There aren’t tensions locally, all these tensions are coming from people who have never seen a Jew and they are coming from outside London.
“I think it is important to stress that the Muslim and Jewish communities in London do not have any issues. The friendship and cooperation between our communities are as strong as ever.”

Jews and Muslims live side by side in St Johns wood. As well as in Stanford Hill/green lanes.

They have coexisted in peace for decades. Forged friendships. And supported each other in human rights violations.

And will continue to do so.

Combatting anti semitism would be by giving the platform to those who are doing the work against racism and anti semitism.

It wouldn’t be by trying to use the current tension to exasperate the division.

We had Jews from Stanford hill join us in the protests yesterday. They walked 3.5 hours to show solidarity.

It is questionable when someone wants to highlight differences in such a disproportionate manner. And polarise the Public opinion.

Is this part of the efforts to dehumanise Palestinians?

A bit of naïvety saying things like Jews are welcome in the UK, if you don't feel safe here go somewhere else etc. DH's Jewish family has been here for generations. Jews aren't necessarily immigrants

[quote Ohthatsgreat]This happened in Manchester Arndale yesterday. Protesters chased a family. I’m not surprised Jewish people in Manchester feel scared. I’m so sorry OP. Silence from Andy Burnham as well and we all know GMP is in a mess being in special measures.

twitter.com/antisemitism/status/1393983090503127040?s=21

www.msn.com/en-gb/video/viral/free-palestine-protest-turns-nasty-inside-manchester-arndale-shopping-centre/vi-BB1gN1Xk?ocid=st[/quote]
That looks terrifying.

I’m so sorry OP. I have Jewish friends and DH’s birth Mother is Jewish, although he is does not follow any religion.
What’s going on in the Middle East is horrifying, but even more so that people are taking it upon themselves to persecute the Jewish communities over here.
We support you.

Gawd so now we're into islamophobia.

Yep yep it's that other religion.

Erm you've seen stuff about the far right groups here? They're not packed full of Muslim men I can assure you.

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.

A lot of Jewish women are left wing Londoners. I personally know a few.

Please don't insult Londoners (left or right wing) by suggesting they're more likely to be racist.

@NiceGerbil

Gawd so now we're into islamophobia.

Yep yep it's that other religion.

Erm you've seen stuff about the far right groups here? They're not packed full of Muslim men I can assure you.

The majority of anti semitism in Western Europe is from Muslims. Is the national geographic also islamophobic?! www.google.co.uk/amp/s/api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/history/article/french-jews-fleeing-country

That poor family, being chased by despicable cowards around a shopping centre FFS.

I have a bad feeling about this thread. I hope it's not filled up with racist antisemitic (or any other racism) overnight whilst moderators are asleep. I wonder if it's best if it's temporarily shut? Just overnight.

This brings me to tears. Please stay strong and know that this will pass. These people are mindless hateful thugs. I am so sorry you feel scared and intimidated. I hope the police are dealing with this in a reassuring and robust way. You do not deserve any of this.

@Tealightsandd

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.

A lot of Jewish women are left wing Londoners. I personally know a few.

Please don't insult Londoners (left or right wing) by suggesting they're more likely to be racist.

I'm guessing you haven't read the thread?

You've misunderstood my post entirely.

I am a lefty woman from the borough with the largest Jewish population in the UK. My school was 50% Jewish.

My point is that if a site often stereotyped as London centric and left wing has plenty of posters making antisemitic comments. Then the overall incidence of antisemitism could be worse.

Then I noted that the labour party did nothing about the antisemitism in the party for ages... So who knows.

Around here there was loads of stuff about how a lot of Jewish prior people were labour supporters going back years, but they felt they could no longer give them their support.

I am so sorry OP. It is disgraceful that you are being treated this way. I'm so saddened to hear that your relatives have left the U.K. Where have they chosen to live?

We're talking about the UK fgs.

I'm talking about what I've seen and heard about round here.

I accept that elsewhere in the country things may be different.

To essentially say it's Muslims who are doing stuff is wrong though.

And it's nothing new. Round here synagogues and areas popular with Jewish people have been targeted for. Forever? But my awareness of it has come in the last 15 years or so.

Oh yes sorry and that bomb (which was related to Palestine/Israel) was a bit of a clue as well.

Sorry of I misunderstood your post @NiceGerbil

@Tealightsandd

I have a bad feeling about this thread. I hope it's not filled up with racist antisemitic (or any other racism) overnight whilst moderators are asleep. I wonder if it's best if it's temporarily shut? Just overnight.

I know what you mean however it's valuable to know what people think, surely? Ok the internet. Some will just post anything to upset people. But most of it is likely how people do think and feel.

Pretending it doesn't exist isn't a good option.

I do know what you mean though.

Good will to all who are scared tonight.

I have been watching social media aghast, as opposition to Israel defence policy gets used to justify hatred of Jewish people who have never set foot in Israel, never mind had a hand in determining the scale and scope of Israel's defence strategies!

It's horrific.