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.

Orchidflower1

And I did just that, by reassuring her that as someone who is of Palestinian heritage and invested in the pro Palestinian protest, I fully denounce any threats she might face. And will compassionate ensure anyone exploiting the suffering of Palestinians to act in an anti semitic manner will face consequences. And that as a community this is being and will continue to be denounced.

I would’ve thought that’s even more effective than a handhold.

I highly doubt she would enjoy having her suffering exploited for people to score points.. and for people to post racist shit about someone else.

So I’m calling this out appropriately.

What’s the point you were making ?

To expect Andy Burnham to stand up against anti semitism in Manchester? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amibeing_unreasonable/4247503-to-expect-andy-burnham-to-stand-up-against-anti-semitism-in-manchester

@KarensChoppyBob

You can join us in emailing him / local MPs if you like.

I made the same decision @SingleDontWantToMingle
The last few years were a disgrace. I will be emailing Andy Burnham’s office. If you’re scared to speak up, you are part of the problem and he needs to speak up. I’m in Manchester and a lot goes unreported. There has been regular vandalism of Jewish graves.
It’s easy to be complacent as we have lived in a country that on the whole is quite well integrated and tolerant. It shouldn’t be taken for granted.

@DateLoaf

Thinking of everyone caught up in the violence in the Middle East at the moment. I don’t agree with the Israeli government action there nor with the International community’s response because there needs to be a ceasefire and peace negotiations now, we just can’t go back to this warfare. But it is horrifying to see domestic opportunists in the UK are using this as a stick to beat British Jews with. Our government must make sure this doesn’t happen. I will write to my MP but I’m also happy to take action in other ways if you can suggest them. Solidarity against anti Semitic intimidation and violence happening at home in the UK.

Well according to some posters you are actually anti Semitic and/or racist because despite being supportive to OP and British Jews in general you also mentioned Palestine.

I'm so sorry. I can't imagine what you're going through. I hope this nightmare ends soon xxx

@SingleDontWantToMingle

To expect Andy Burnham to stand up against anti semitism in Manchester? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amibeing_unreasonable/4247503-to-expect-andy-burnham-to-stand-up-against-anti-semitism-in-manchester

@KarensChoppyBob

You can join us in emailing him / local MPs if you like.

☑️.

I agree about Andy Burnham and I thought his silence was deafening.

To be honest he is a pretty lightweight politician who is only interested in his own career progression and popularity...

@DeepThinkingGirl I was concerned that the continuing political tooing and fro ing detracts from the purpose of the thread. I’m not quite sure what you’re implying with point scoring? What are you suggesting I’m doing?

We know that op won’t be back on the thread. In other circumstances an op comes back to join in with discussion and guide the way. I don’t want op to come back to a derailed thread.

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'

I think, H20, if you were to ask my grandmother and her daughter- my aunt, Jewish and victims of rape, Holocaust survivors as well, you would realise that it is in fact that 'deep'.

I don't think it's as deep as that @TheVanguardSix.

It's not as though the Islamic world holds women in particularly high regard https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/world/middleeast/isis-enshrines-a-theology-of-rape.html

*women of any race or religion (including their own)

The sort of men that make these threats see women as possessions of the men they want to harm. The women are not people in their own right.

Aargh because obviously isis (which many Muslims fought against) represents Islam

OP. I hope that when you switch on the news again there will be calm and some reports of arrests of the people making these threats and acting violently.

I am a Christian married to a Muslim and I condemn this anti-Semitism.

We all need to decide what sort of society we want Britain to be.

We can disagree on politics but no race should be targeted because of the behaviour of a government or any other organisation.

I will not accept anyone turning Britain into a society where Jews feel unsafe. That is not the country want to be part of.

Some of the Palestinians are Christians not necessarily Muslim.

Anyway I totally agree with you Chaz

@littleducks

Aargh because obviously isis (which many Muslims fought against) represents Islam

I take your point but plenty of "less" radical Muslim states hardly hold women in much better regard with their draconian laws on dress, driving, adultery etc https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/sri-lanka-asks-saudi-arabia-pardon-maid-sentenced-death-stoning-after-she-admitted-adultery-a6752196.html

I mean, genuinely, can you name one Muslim-majority state that is in any way progressive in its treatment of women?

Ironically Iran under the Shah was - there are photos of 1970s Iran with women wearing mini skirts, no head coverings etc - but that fell apart after the Iranian Revolution in the 1970s (which, incidentally, was also the time when most Persian Jews fled for the lives. Because after centuries of living in Iran they were no longer welcome).

And by the way @littleducks, there are plenty of Muslims (especially Arab Israelis/Palestinians) who are fighting or disagreeing over Hamas in Gaza too - their voices tend to get drowned out in the condemnation of Israel.

Ffs.

Why are people now making sweeping judgements and generalisations about Muslims?

Why can’t we just condemn antisemitism without having to qualify it or attack other faiths and cultures in the process?

*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'

I think, H20, if you were to ask my grandmother and her daughter- my aunt, Jewish and victims of rape, Holocaust survivors as well, you would realise that it is in fact that 'deep'.*

@TheVanguardSix is right sadly. Rape & violence against women is frequently used in ethnic / religious wars.

@Dyrne

Ffs.

Why are people now making sweeping judgements and generalisations about Muslims?

Why can’t we just condemn antisemitism without having to qualify it or attack other faiths and cultures in the process?

I'm not "attacking" the faith or culture.

I'm specifically talking about ethno-religious states in the Middle East and their treatment of women.

Gaza is one of those states. It is ergo no surprise that men who claim to support that state repeat its rhetoric towards women.

FightingtheFoo

Dyrne
Ffs.

Why are people now making sweeping judgements and generalisations about Muslims?

Why can’t we just condemn antisemitism without having to qualify it or attack other faiths and cultures in the process?

I'm not "attacking" the faith or culture.

I'm specifically talking about ethno-religious states in the Middle East and their treatment of women.

Gaza is one of those states. It is ergo no surprise that men who claim to support that state repeat its rhetoric towards women.

Do you want me responding to your claims or would that be disrespectful and derailing the thread which is meant to be support for the OP?

Because I have plenty to say but I don’t want to stoop to your level exploiting a human story of suffering to further my own agenda.

I know exactly how that works

The rape of Jewish women during the Shoah was different than any other genocide.

Unlike rape in other contexts where the genocidal aim is to contaminate the bloodline - the contamination of the German bloodline was anti ethical to Nazi ideology.
The crime of Rassenschande prohibited by law all sexual relationships between Aryans and Jews. Between 1939 - 1945 over 2000 cases resulted in average prison sentences of 4 - 5 years.
Unlike other examples of wartime rape where the emphasis is placed on the violation of the woman’s body, German men who raped Jewish women violated their own existence and jeopardized their membership in the future master race.

Hopping (not saying you think this) but it’s not anti Semitic nor racist to be horrified at the continuing deaths and oppression of people in Palestine in this latest exchange of violence. Of course not. We can’t ignore anyone’s pain and suffering, and also if we do there will never be peace.
That’s not taking away at all from my full support of people in Israel who are also being hurt and intimidated in this latest outbreak of violence and of ordinary British Jewish people facing the prospect of anti Semitic abuse and attack on our streets here in the UK.