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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:
KateF · 16/05/2021 19:43

I'm very sorry this is happening to you and your community. It's perfectly possible to object to the actions of the state of Israel without being anti-semitic. There are plenty of Jewish people inside and outside Israel who oppose what is being done to the Palestinian people.

Foxhasbigsocks · 16/05/2021 19:43

@BellaTheDog that’s crap. Do you speak out and demonstrate about human rights abuses allegedly committed by Putin (orthodox Christian) if you are Christian?

Thatswatshesaid · 16/05/2021 19:44

I’m in Manchester too and have seen some of the protesting. My first thought was for the Jewish community as it was very ‘full on’.

sausagebap · 16/05/2021 19:45

Even if Jewish people in Britain do support the actions of the Israeli government, that doesn't warrant them getting rape and death threats ffs

Orchidflower1 · 16/05/2021 19:45

@Elladisenchanted

I’m so very sorry you’re going through this and appalled and all the hatred towards your community.

Ignore all the bigots on the thread- they’re clearly racist twonks who don’t have two brain cells to rub together.

Tealightsandd · 16/05/2021 19:46

@BellaTheDog

I feel so sorry for you. But British Jews have a responsibility for speaking out about the appalling way Israel is treating the Palestinians. I know some have, but more need to. Otherwise people will assume (rightly or wrongly) that British Jews support the terrible things Israel are doing.
Israel is attacked and isn't allowed to defend itself?

Your reasoning is strange. By your argument, British Muslims should call out Egypt for it's persecution of Coptic Christians. Even if they're not Egyptian.

nancy75 · 16/05/2021 19:46

@BellaTheDog

I feel so sorry for you. But British Jews have a responsibility for speaking out about the appalling way Israel is treating the Palestinians. I know some have, but more need to. Otherwise people will assume (rightly or wrongly) that British Jews support the terrible things Israel are doing.
Rubbish, if you were saying that after a Muslim terror attack you’d be (quite rightly) called Islamophobic. How is the action of a foreign country the responsibility of the OP?
Norked · 16/05/2021 19:46

@BellaTheDog

I feel so sorry for you. But British Jews have a responsibility for speaking out about the appalling way Israel is treating the Palestinians. I know some have, but more need to. Otherwise people will assume (rightly or wrongly) that British Jews support the terrible things Israel are doing.
Wtf
MajesticWhine · 16/05/2021 19:47

Lots of disgusting racist threatening behaviour in my area today. So sorry for the fear you are feeling OP. I really hope the police get on top of this behaviour immediately.

Tealightsandd · 16/05/2021 19:47

Oh - and quite rightly British Chinese are not being attacked because of China's treatment of the Uighers. Why is it ok (by some posters) to attack British Jewish people?

missfliss · 16/05/2021 19:48

I'm so sorry - I'm appalled and upset for you OP.

Sending hugs and thoughts.

Appalled at the idiocy of conflating Judaism with the Israeli govt.

OP is a British citizen, what's happening in Israel and Gaza has no more to do with her than any of us.

FGS

Binglebong · 16/05/2021 19:49

I'm so sorry OP. I have no real idea of the rights and wrongs of the conflict but I DO know for sure that you are not responsible for it. Noone here is and this violence that we are seeing is just reinforcing to the people who are responsible that it is needed.

I promise you OP it is a tiny tiny minority that are doing this and I'm sorry that the are able to have such a great effect. The rest of us are horrified by it and sympathetic.Flowers

CommunistLegoBloc · 16/05/2021 19:49

Hmm yeah and I ask for a declaration from my Muslim friends after every terror attack, @BellaTheDog. I'm completely incapable of separating the two things like an intelligent human being, you see.

AlmostSummer21 · 16/05/2021 19:49

I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this abhorrent behaviour in England.

No law abiding citizen in England should have to feel fear because of their Religion. It's an utter disgrace that you're at home, scared because you're Jewish.

I'm atheist, (and a bit clueless) but how bad would it be for your DH to stay home with you? It doesn't sound safe out & you're scared in the house.

Stay safe & know there are many of us that find this situation abhorrent.

💐

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 16/05/2021 19:50

I'm sorry, OP.

This is your country as much as it is mine. I have massive respect for the Jewish community.

EssentialHummus · 16/05/2021 19:50

I’m so sorry to hear this OP. I’m Jewish, in London. I’ve been affected by antisemitism literally once in my life - perhaps because I am not very observant - and I always find it shocking hearing that other Jews are being targeted in this day and age. Many of us are aghast at what’s happening in Israel and Gaza but when it spills over into racist bile on either side it’s even more disturbing and unnecessary.

Fwiw I run a small charity and regularly work with Muslims, even fairly religious people. I was interviewed on Bengali tv recently, of all things Grin. I derive a lot of peace from the fact that we can work together and find common goals rather than resort to abuse and stereotype.

Purpletomato · 16/05/2021 19:50

So sorry Op, the rise in anti semitism is awful.

AlmostSummer21 · 16/05/2021 19:51

@Emanchego

Thinking more of Palestinians tbh.
Go do that elsewhere.

You're condoning people threatening to rape women & children.

Listen to yourself

Clymene · 16/05/2021 19:52

I so sorry. I'm absolutely horrified by what is happening. ThanksThanksThanks

TiltTopTable · 16/05/2021 19:52

I'm so saddened this is happening to your community OP. The same people blaming you are the same who scream islamophobia when thugs blame all Muslims for Islamic terrorism. I have no idea why so many British people get so whipped up about Israel, when they blithely ignore any other conflicts around the world. The most obvious reason is antisemitism, pure and simple. Stay safe.

PicsInRed · 16/05/2021 19:54

@BellaTheDog

I feel so sorry for you. But British Jews have a responsibility for speaking out about the appalling way Israel is treating the Palestinians. I know some have, but more need to. Otherwise people will assume (rightly or wrongly) that British Jews support the terrible things Israel are doing.
As a British person, do you feel the moral obligation to speak out against the US government for their war actions? Because, given the USA was founded by British people in order to freely and safely worship...asking that you answer for the actions of the US government is pretty much the exact parallel to you asking the same of a descendant of Jewish people who never moved to the State of Israel.
QueenOfTheDoubleWide · 16/05/2021 19:54

The idiots on this thread are, no doubt, the type who would jump up and down and scream "racist" if someone aimed comments like theirs at other races or religions

I am so sorry OP. We have close friends who are Jewish and I know it can be very hard to deal with the anti-Semitic idiots, please just know most of us disagree with everything they stand for. You are no more to blame for this than the average Muslim is for Isis or the average Catholic for child abuse

Clymene · 16/05/2021 19:55

And for whoever asked, the Rabbi who was beaten up this morning in Chingford is called Rabbi Rafi Goodwin.

Igmum · 16/05/2021 19:55

So sorry this is happening to you OP and how horrific that some people use world events as an excuse to beat up Jews. Please stay safe. Thanks

Notthissticky · 16/05/2021 19:55

@BellaTheDog

I feel so sorry for you. But British Jews have a responsibility for speaking out about the appalling way Israel is treating the Palestinians. I know some have, but more need to. Otherwise people will assume (rightly or wrongly) that British Jews support the terrible things Israel are doing.
Nope. In the same way that it's ridiculous to expect every Muslim to speak out against the actions of a small number of Islamist terrorists, it's ridiculous to expect Jews to speak out against the actions of a foreign government that they merely share a religion with. And they certainly shouldn't have to fear for their safety because of their religion
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