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.

Absolutely disgusting that you feel this way. Anyone who behaves in this way should be dealt with by the law without delay.
I do believe that if the Labour Party had bothered to address the difference between anti Zionism and anti Semitism, maybe fewer people would be mixing them up. I am in Manchester and strongly object to the behaviour of the Israeli government as do the vast majority of Jews who I've spoken to

The people carrying out acts of violence are thugs with no moral compass. Criticising the Israeli govt is one thing, taking out their anger on Jewish people here is disgusting. In truth these are people who enjoy carrying out violent acts. The rest is just a poor excuse and a lot of that is borne of ignorance. I hope that made sense.

@SlipperyDippery

Regardless of what anyone thinks about Israel’s actions, there is NO EXCUSE for anti-semitism. Holding Jewish people collectively responsible for the actions is anti-Semitic, let alone harassing and assaulting them over it. I’m sorry this is happening to you and your community OP

This.

I'm not Jewish, but personally I believe in Israel's right to exist and to defend against attacks. But regardless, no-one should be blaming British Jewish people for anything that Israel does.

@Tealightsandd

the ethnic cleansing which Israel are intent on carrying out.

This isn't China and the Uighers. Or Egypt and the Coptic Christians. What 'ethnic cleansing' is Israel doing?

I don't believe it's right that misinformation should be left unchallenged.

You know full well what ethnic cleansing. Driving Palestinians out of their homes, taking more and more of their space, pushing them further and further away, to live in smaller and smaller areas. This isn’t about Hamas, that is just the smokescreen.

I'm really sorry that you and other Jewish people are suffering a rise in antisemitism, It stinks!
I'm also really sorry that there are all sorts of disgusting incidents going on, directly connected to supposedly pro Palestine supporters, and I don't seek to suggest otherwise, but can I point out that according to the synagogue that he's community rabbi of, while antisemitic language was thrown at him during it, the attack on Rabbi Rafi Goodwin is believed to have been a result of of a bog standard road rage dispute, sadly normal for both London and Essex along with racist or sexist abuse of the victim.

Oh and no one should be required to denounce others in order not to be considered some sort of 'legitimate' target for twats.

[quote BellaTheDog]@Mousetown Which is why you can’t draw a parallel between Catholicism and Judaism. Of course most Catholics do not support child rape.[/quote]
🤦‍♀️ I give up

MissyB1 The vast majority of their homes was in Jordan.

I’m so so sorry OP. Words fail me but I’m thinking of everyone affected in all this. So many innocents

But plenty of Catholics do speak out.

A) as is their right; not their duty and B) Catholicism isn't an ethnicity.

I'm so sorry @Elladisenchanted. I live in Gateshead which has a massive Orthodox community and I am hopeful such nonsense won't spread here. I am privileged to work with a large portion of the community and they are the kindest most polite people I know. Chag sameach for Shavuot.

The vast majority of the land in 1948 became Jordan. Why do palestinians never claim or attack that land?

What do you mean the majority of the land became Jordan? Are you talking about Transjordan?

Your post has brought tears to my eyes.

That’s terrible, OP. As much as I can’t support the Israeli government’s recent actions, I think Jewish culture should be celebrated and I hate to think that Jewish people feel threatened in the UK. I’m always shocked by anti-Semitism and how prevalent it is, and I think there will be people out there hiding behind Palestinian flags, even though they don’t give a crap about Palestine, because it gives them some sort of rationale for the hatred they’ve always held toward Jewish people.

I hope your Rabbi makes a full recovery. I don’t know any Jewish people personally (I live in NI, and there isn’t a big Jewish community here), but I’d love to learn more about your culture and traditions. Maybe an AMA sometime if you’re feeling up to it?

I’m so sorry OP

I'm pro Palestine and I'm saddened (but sadly not surprised) to hear it is being taken out on Jewish people, some idiots can't seem to separate the Israeli government from Judaism. I know it won't help you feel any safer but I hope the support from this thread helps you see that the majority of people who support Palestine know it's not Jewish people to blame.

• add Saudi, North Korea to that list and any other place where people are being persecuted. North Korea, the potentially largest prison camp on earth, where citizens are hidden away from the world and suffer unimaginable horrors.

Op, the while thing is so horrendous and hitting out like this at Jewish people, is idiotic and ridiculous.

Unfortunately too many people are unable to separate in their minds the appalling situation in Gaza and Jewish people as a whole.

Just like so many can't separate terrorism in the name of Islam and the vast majority of peaceful Muslims.

@Tealightsandd they want to evict Palestinian families from houses in a majority Arab area of East Jerusalem. Those homes would then be given to Jewish families.

Imagine if you and your loved ones were booted out of your home for it to be given to a family deemed the “right” race.

Missy why did you call it the 'motherland'? Is it because it's the ancient and historical land of the Jewish people?

OP I am sickened and infuriated that this STILL goes on and that it seems anti-semitism is still acceptable in some circles.

No Jewish person is responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, other than the government itself. Why the fuck should you be expected to perform a public apology about what completely unrelated parties do, to appease others and show them you deserve to be treated decently??? It’s racism, pure and simple.

Fuck that.

@BellaTheDog

Given that I’m Jewish, grew up in a Jewish suburb of North London, attended a Jewish school and spent time in Israel, I would say I probably know what I’m talking about.

To those criticising me, what are YOUR credentials?

Given your background I would have thought you'd understand. Why should I have to express any view about the actions of the Israeli Government? I didn't vote them in. They have as little to do with me as any other foreign government. So why should I bear any responsibility for speaking out? Why should I have to take extra care tonight according to an emergency email I received from the community this evening? Why should I have to be alerted that if I feel there might be a specific local threat such as hostile cars in my neighbourhood I should report it immediately. Just because I'm Jewish I'm not responsible for the actions of a foreign government. It's pure anti-semitism. I'm usually the last person to jump and down about this stuff but this time it's crystal clear

There is no justification for inciting anti-Jewish or anti-Muslim hatred. The incidents of antisemitism we have seen in recent days have been shameful.

Hi OP

I live in the borough with the largest Jewish population in the UK. I'm not Jewish myself.

I find the way that anti semitism is seen somehow differently to other forms of religious intolerance.

Around here many synagogues have had bouncers effectively for at least 15 years. Some don't publish where they are in the internet and are not pointed out on Google maps- you call up and have a chat and they tell you where to come.

DH works around an area which is seen as Jewish (although in fact less so than 30 years ago) and there are swastikas and things spray painted. Periodically- just generally. For years.

I mentioned to DH last night while we were watching the news. He said something like people make the mistake of conflating the actions of the Israeli govt with Jewish people full stop. I said nope. It's an excuse for antisemitism. Loads of people don't like/are suspicious of/ hate Jewish people.

I'm sorry you're experiencing this OP. I don't know what else to say.

I just don't get it. At all. Other hatred is bad. Antisemitism meh.

I just bought Jews don't count by David baddiel and from the dipping so far looks good. The dip yesterday gave his friend saying that it was different if it's Jews who are the target as 'jews are rich'.

I can't think of what to say. DH is out on the road all the time checking streets etc and says he hasn't seen an increase in vandalism etc. Yet, probably.

This is awful, a poster has come on to say she’s scared (and understandably so given recent attacks and calls for violence against Jews in Britain) and there are some people on here basically saying she deserves it for being the same race/Religion as a government thousands of miles away that’s nothing to do with her?

I fucking despair. This is anti Semitism in action.