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Original poster

I'm a scared British Jew

547 replies

Elladisenchanted · 16/05/2021 18:53

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.

OP posts:
MyOctopusFeature · 17/05/2021 21:09

@Changednameforthispost11

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...

Yes. He loves it when people suffer. Then his raison-d'etre shines. The sign of a narcissist.
KarensChoppyBob · 17/05/2021 21:13

I would recommend this book for anyone trying to understand how 'specifically' Jewish women and children were treated as little as half a century ago. Just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the last two millennia.

If This Is a Woman - Sarah Helm.

KarensChoppyBob · 17/05/2021 21:17

Link.

KarensChoppyBob · 17/05/2021 21:18

Ok link not working. Don't know why.

Mistlewoeandwhine · 17/05/2021 21:22

I just wanted to add my support of the OP and the Jewish community as a whole. Anti Semitic is just wrong and as evil as any other oppression of minority groups.

Devlesko · 17/05/2021 21:53

OP, just wanted you to know, the Romany haven't forgotten the lady who tipped us off about Pritti Patel in the interview.
We stand by you now and I'm hearing such disgust and anger coming from our community.
What can they do to help besides emailing their mp? Which I know they are doing.
I'm in greater manchester, but know the areas well.
My sympathy and prayers are with you all. x

NoMLMbots · 17/05/2021 22:09

@GrumpyHoonMain

It happens on the other side of the spectrum a lot more frequently. Hindu woman who lived in an Israeli Jewish area for quite some time - I was spat on, called racist names, women of my background go pushed out into the main road by rabbles of orthodox teenaged boys so often our local community even told us to avoid certain areas at certain times. But this was never taken seriously by the council. I guess they thought White Jewish people couldn’t be racist.
This is a support thread for a Jewish woman and yet this poster thinks it's OK to insist white Jewish are racist....why? Not supportive at all and wrong
NoMLMbots · 17/05/2021 22:10

Why cannot people just support the OP without the judgement and whataboutery!

Hoppinggreen · 18/05/2021 08:41

@DateLoaf

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.
I completely agree with you Other people do not
Echobelly · 18/05/2021 10:16

Our son's school (Jewish) was going to do a walking bus for walk to school week, but decided against as I guess a big group of Jewish school children together could be seen as a target. Sad I suspect it's a bit of an overreaction, but I also understand it right now.

xxyzz · 18/05/2021 11:01

Thank you, @Devlesko Flowers

Maireas · 18/05/2021 17:20

@Echobelly

Our son's school (Jewish) was going to do a walking bus for walk to school week, but decided against as I guess a big group of Jewish school children together could be seen as a target. Sad I suspect it's a bit of an overreaction, but I also understand it right now.
Unfortunately, it may not be an overreaction. Antisemitism is on the rise and recent incidents have been particularly vile. I hope the children stay safe.
ThursdayWeld · 18/05/2021 19:25

@DateLoaf

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.
It's anti Semitic to link the two.

Should we somehow expect British Muslims to account for the behaviour of Iran?

Devlesko · 18/05/2021 20:32

I've been thinking of you and the Jewish communities, today.
How are you feeling today?

Puttingouthefirewithgasoline · 18/05/2021 21:09

Unfortunately, tragically it seems that this type of protest is wide spread across the the world, pro palenstine supporters targeting their Jewish community.
Ignorant people, usually spoiling for any excuse to have a fight lashing out at obvious targets

It's the same with Muslim people targeted after any isis atrocity, or similar.

I'd like to know if the perps are young or old or have families because I bet most of the time it's bored silly teens with nothing else to do.

Tealightsandd · 18/05/2021 21:11

@NoMLMbots

Why cannot people just support the OP without the judgement and whataboutery!
Because those people (doing the whataboutery) are racists.
Herewegoagainok · 18/05/2021 21:17

I don't follow the news closely so had no idea this was happening but it makes sense. These absolute bastards always seem to jump on the back of the israel- Palestine conflicts to justify voicing their disgusting opinions. I hope the wider community will come out in solidarity to restore your faith in your local area. These horrible people unfortunately shout loudest but they are not the majority Flowers

DateLoaf · 18/05/2021 22:23

Sorry Thursday I’m not following you. Could you expand a bit more?

ThursdayWeld · 18/05/2021 22:39

@DateLoaf

Sorry Thursday I’m not following you. Could you expand a bit more?
It is anti Semitic to link the actions of the Israeli government with Jews in general.

So, to say "I am sympathetic to British Jews being targetted but I also hate what's going on in Israel" is somehow linking/blaming Jews everywhere for the actions of one government, is Jew blaming, and is anti Semitic.

If a mosque were attacked nobody would say "It's awful that Muslims were targetted but I also have sympathy for Christians in Iran".

Original poster
Elladisenchanted · 19/05/2021 03:26

Thank you to everyone who posted supportive comments, I can't explain how heartening and reassuring it is to read. I've got orthodox friends who've read the thread too and are also appreciative.

@HebeMumsnet - mumsnet's strong stance against anti semitism is also really appreciated.

Thank G-d the festival was quiet. We basically acted as normal but didn't let our oldest walk alone. I'm feeling calmer in myself too. This is worse at the moment but it isn't new so I guess at some level you just adjust. Zero technology for 2 days and a lot of cheesecake helped too! We'll continue to take some precautions and keep a wary eye on the news and pray this passes quickly. Things have flared up at the moment but anti-semitism and threats are a permanent feature of Jewish life to varying degrees. We have security guards on almost every Jewish school, nursery/creche and synagogue in the UK. I can't remember when it was or why things got worse but there was a point a few years back where it was so bad I felt afraid to send my children to school. The anxiety then was the worst I've ever felt.

I don't really know what can be done about anti semitism. I know there have been and continue to be interfaith initiatives which I think do a lot of of good.

OP posts:
NiceGerbil · 19/05/2021 03:29

I don't know either I'm sorry.

I'm glad you are ok.

KarensChoppyGob · 19/05/2021 05:27

Also very glad you're ok OP and that you and your friends found some solace in this thread.

Sunflowergirl1 · 19/05/2021 05:58

Glad it went ok@Elladisenchanted . It makes me sick that a former selected political party nearly mainstreamed anti-semitism as being acceptable which has given others air time to do some of these things. It is disgusting and I hope Keir Starmer realises a lot of people, including me will never vote Labour until not only has he reformed the party but also got rid of the anti Semitic MPs that were recruited as it doesn't take much for them to come out

DateLoaf · 19/05/2021 07:43

Elladisenchanted thank you for the thread and for updating us. I have been thinking of you. Glad that you found a bit of comfort in small things at least. I agree with you about interfaith initiatives representing some hope.

I don’t want to derail and clearly its just one part of tackling the starting points of intolerance, but I also think we should be very concerned that religious education has not been a core curriculum subject taught in British schools for some years now. That was Michael Gove’s initiative if I remember rightly. I don’t see how everyday mutual understanding and respect can grow without this? www.interfaith.org.uk/activity/religious-education

BBC report showing that a quarter of schools don’t teach religious education at all, in spite of their legal obligations:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-41282330

ElephantsNest · 19/05/2021 07:50

It is so nice to hear that you had a good festival and were able to switch off for a few days. Good cheesecake helps in all sorts of situations. Wink

Jewish people are less visible in my area, which is rural and doesn’t have a large Jewish population, but your thread has made me think about how I might express my support more actively.