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.

@KevinTheGoat perfectly put.

@IheartJKR

I’m a little taken aback by all the post saying that the op is welcome here and that not all Jewish people support the Israeli governments politics.

To me the implication is that op is welcome here because, of course, she doesn’t....right?

I agree with posters upthread who said op is not ‘welcome’, she’s a British citizen and is part of our community.

I also would like to state that regardless of her own political opinion on Israel , op is still entitled to live in safety without intimidation and threats.

Agree completely

@KevinTheGoat May I ask a question, I promise I am not being goady. Do your Jewish family and friends generally support Israel? I ask because SO MANY Jewish people I know DO support Israel. So it isn’t a case of something ‘over there’ when it’s ‘over here’, if that makes sense.

And by the way, for others, it is important to discuss this issue openly without resorting to name-calling and requests to have people banned from Mumsnet.

It might be important to discuss it, @BellaTheDog, but a thread about Jewish fear is a twatty and goady place to attempt it.

@KevinTheGoat

Firstly, I'm Jewish. Secondly, I'm pro-Palestine. And I hate the fact I have to make a point of saying that just to get non-Jews to listen to me, because Jews have to pass a test before non-Jews decide whether we're worthy of protection or not.

Please stop expecting Jews to apologise for Israel. I've never been there, I have no intention of going there, I am absolutely horrified about what is going on in Palestine and other Jews are as well. Those protestors can rape me a thousand times, it won't bring any of the victims of Israel's bombing campaign back and it sure as hell won't change the situation over there. Nor will writing 'free Palestine' on synagogue doors and the fact people IMMEDIATELY see a Jewish building, or person, and think of Israel is fucked up. Would you write 'fuck ISIS' on a mosque or attack a random Muslim person over the Manchester bombing? Because that's the same kind of mentality. I don't hate all Palestinians because of Hamas. It's the people on the ground I care about. It's a human rights issue for me, simple as, and Palestinians to me are no different from any other people suffering under a tyrannical and cruel regime.

BellatheDog, it's not your criticism of Israel that people are calling antisemitic. Please don't be obtuse. It's because you expect British Jews to apologise for Israel. A country which is hundreds of miles away. It's not a part of my daily life and I have no ties to it. And people like you are why I stick to Jewish-led pro-Palestine movements. I cannot trust non-Jews anymore. The mask always slips. I honestly think some people couldn't care less about the Palestinians and just use them as an excuse to hate Jews.

Chag Sameach, OP.

Excellent post.

Every single Jew in the UK has the right to a peaceful life (no caveats). You can choose to support Israel or not or something in between. There is no exception.

@CommunistLegoBloc

It might be important to discuss it, *@BellaTheDog*, but a thread about Jewish fear is a twatty and goady place to attempt it.

Indeed. Is it not enough for Bella to keep hatred to the pro Palestinian threads?

This thread is surely not about Israel or Palestine it's about the fear of a person in Britain who is scared and should not be.

@BellaTheDog it rather bella “the dog with with a bone”

Either wind your neck in and start supporting and empathising with people regardless of their faith or just go to sleep in your bed chewing on your bone. This is a SUPPORT thread not a SOAP BOX. We KNOW what you think. BE KIND.

Hmmmf

To all others who may have had a restless night. I hope and pray for more calm and safety for your families and loved ones tonight. 🌸🌸🌸🤗🤗🤗

No ifs or buts, I am angry and disgusted by the rape threats towards Jewish women and girls.

This is not relevant to the OP but sadly it is relevant to the thread. What happens in a couple of countries thousands of miles away who are bombing each other is totally irrelevant to me. I'm not taking sides, I'm not really that interested. Israel has no more or less right to exist than any other country so all the posts waffling about how it's great that people are questioning it are at best pathetic and at worst, well... Ime, people only 'care' about Palestine if they can get at Israel, there are never any threads in response to Syrian attacks for example, and rarely for any global atrocities going on. But then I'm not Jewish, I'm never going to have to face the inquisition that people like KevinTheGoat suffer (fantastic post). I don't ever want to hear 'but Israel' in relation to antisemitic racism against British Jews because neither I nor the 'but Israel-er' are really bothered, are we?

[quote BellaTheDog]@KevinTheGoat May I ask a question, I promise I am not being goady. Do your Jewish family and friends generally support Israel? I ask because SO MANY Jewish people I know DO support Israel. So it isn’t a case of something ‘over there’ when it’s ‘over here’, if that makes sense.

And by the way, for others, it is important to discuss this issue openly without resorting to name-calling and requests to have people banned from Mumsnet.[/quote]
So what if they do. SO WHAT. lots of Jewish people support US foreign policy. Do they have to declare that every time anti semitism is mentioned? Of course not. Some Jews do support Israeli policy. Some don't. For some it isn't black and white but it has nothing to do with my religion or ethnicity and I have deliberately not stated my view either way on here because IT DOESN'T MATTER when discussing racism.

@NCForThisForObvsReasonsNC I am so sorry to hear this. Losing your confidence just going about your day to day life is utterly vile. That is what these loutish thugs hanging out their cars shouting obscenities and threatening decent people want. They want you to be afraid. Please don't let them slap you down. For every one like that, I believe there are many many more who would stand between them and you to protect you. Decent people who are busy going about their lives are not trolling and bullying innocent people. However we can see exactly what is going on and won't stand by and let it creep in unnoticed.

[quote Orchidflower1]@BellaTheDog it rather bella “the dog with with a bone”

Either wind your neck in and start supporting and empathising with people regardless of their faith or just go to sleep in your bed chewing on your bone. This is a SUPPORT thread not a SOAP BOX. We KNOW what you think. BE KIND.

Hmmmf

To all others who may have had a restless night. I hope and pray for more calm and safety for your families and loved ones tonight. 🌸🌸🌸🤗🤗🤗[/quote]
Spot on

And so the inquisition on a self-declared Jewish person starts. BellaTheDog do YOU support Israel? If not, why not? Are there any other Middle Eastern countries you don't support?

@KevinTheGoat May I ask a question, I promise I am not being goady. Do your Jewish family and friends generally support Israel? I ask because SO MANY Jewish people I know DO support Israel. So it isn’t a case of something ‘over there’ when it’s ‘over here’, if that makes sense.

So someone is only deserving of sympathy when they, their siblings and inlaws and third cousins twice removed not to mention their friends and acquaintances all can prove they do not support Israel?

[quote BellaTheDog]@KevinTheGoat May I ask a question, I promise I am not being goady. Do your Jewish family and friends generally support Israel? I ask because SO MANY Jewish people I know DO support Israel. So it isn’t a case of something ‘over there’ when it’s ‘over here’, if that makes sense.

And by the way, for others, it is important to discuss this issue openly without resorting to name-calling and requests to have people banned from Mumsnet.[/quote]
What do you mean by "support Israel"? Believe it has a right to exist? Support the actions of its current government? Have a vague awareness of events over there and deplore people being killed in a general sense? Why do British Jews have to have an opinion on all these things?

Do you support China/ the USA/ Myanmar/ Russia/ the UK? Do you disagree with some of their actions? Do you think they should cease to exist?

The double standards are just so glaringly obvious to me.

@CanOfLilt - well put.
@BellaTheDog - start to question your double standards. Or is it ok to threaten British Chinese people because of the Ugyhurs?

BellaTheDog do YOU support Israel? If not, why not?

I do not support Israel due to the situation. However, I support individual Israelis who are living peacefully alongside Palestinians, and Jewish people internationally who are working towards a peaceful and fair solution.

@LaurieFairyCake

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

Who the fuck are you to talk for the Jewish community?

Most Jews absolutely support the Israeli government's right to protect Israeli citizens - who are comprised of Jews, Arabs and Christians - from indiscriminate bombs being 5rown on them by a terrorist organisation.

*thrown

Every person here who has mentioned Israel/Palestine in response to a British Jew talking about antisemitism is a racist.

[quote BellaTheDog]@KevinTheGoat May I ask a question, I promise I am not being goady. Do your Jewish family and friends generally support Israel? I ask because SO MANY Jewish people I know DO support Israel. So it isn’t a case of something ‘over there’ when it’s ‘over here’, if that makes sense.

And by the way, for others, it is important to discuss this issue openly without resorting to name-calling and requests to have people banned from Mumsnet.[/quote]
So your previous post was deleted yet you are still trying to get your point in by the back door.
Unfortunately for you, your ( pretty transparent) mask has already slipped.
We live in a country where we all expect to be protected from racial harassment. No caveats. The end.
Once that becomes dependent on having ‘approved views’ we all lose.

@FightingtheFoo

Every person here who has mentioned Israel/Palestine in response to a British Jew talking about antisemitism is a racist.

Clear and true

@KevinTheGoat excellent post.

@FightingtheFoo I agree 100%

BellaTheDog What situation stops you supporting Israel?