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.

I'm so sorry you're feeling like this. I honestly think a lot of people are losing the ability to see areas of grey and are just too happy to add aggression and division where it isn't needed at all.

I also think a lot of people are cunts and just need one tiny excuse so they can show it. I don't believe the majority of the people threatening Jewish people at the minute give a flying fuck about Palestine.

OP I'm non observant and (half) Jewish. I feel sick to my stomach at what is going on. for you and your community.

Why do so many posters feel the need to preface their good wishes to the OP with a disclaimer about how they don't condone the Israeli government? How is that relevant to British Jews? Can't you just offer your good wishes and save your political views for a more appropriate thread?

@Tealightsandd

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

Eh??? Who used the word “motherland” ?? Only you as far as I can see!

Has your previous post been deleted @MissyB1? You referred to Israel as 'the motherland' upthread. Perhaps the post was deleted because of the anti semitism in the post.

It’s just such a weird thing to be shouting, isn’t it? I could understand (though clearly don’t endorse) “kill the infidels” or “death to the occupiers” or something, but why is it always about raping women?

I don't believe in calling people names due to their religion nor make threats of violence towards anyone who is religious as I'm an atheist, I think they are all bloody bonkers, though I wouldn't eat a bacon sandwich in front of someone Muslim or someone I knew was Jewish but I agree threats of rape ect because someone doesn't believe in the same god or prays differently should be taken seriously and their should be consequences of good old fashioned jail time. Its bloody ridiculous these threats are being made. If the middle east wants to fight each other, let them but keep it off British soil.

@Annoymoususer

I have no idea what a hasidic community is so wouldn't be obvious to me. I'm from an area that's Catholic so don't encounter other people's religions often unless it came up in conversation

What the fuck are you going on about? I have no idea how the fact that you can't identify a Hasidic Jew has any relevance at all to this thread. Are you saying that anti-semitism can't exist because you personally can't spot a Jewish person? Or you just can't be arsed to Google? The op is saying she's scared because of a well-reported rise in anti-Semitic attacks over the past 48 hours. What are your thoughts on that other than you obviously weren't involved because you can't tell who is Jewish and who isn't.

@Annoymoususer

How do people know your Jewish in the UK? Does it come up in conversation.. Because I couldn't pick out someones religion unless they told me specifically. And as for rape threats they should be taken seriously that's a disgusting horrible threat to make towards anyone. Honestly those people making those threats are pure weirdos.

Just reading through.

Various religious indicators in dress.
School uniform for Jewish schools. That one is a worry, easy to target.
People going to synagogue.
Living in an area which is predominantly v Jewish- probably people who do this stuff don't care if they target the wrong people once in a while. Ditto people in certain areas with certain appearances who arseholes could well guess at.
Jewish businesses. Names on small businesses etc and in the old days phone book. Again guesses will be hazarded.

If you Google North London bomb threat Jew you will get loads of hits for Jewish schools receiving bomb warnings. I know Brent X has had bomb threats for this reason as well. There was also a large bomb that detonated that I heard and saw the aftermath of on my way to work. The bomb was for a Jewish newspaper, it burnt out a car, all the shop Windows were blown up and down the road.

That sort of thing.

Does that help your question?

Are u actually being goady and looking for arguments online, why would I know what hasidic jew is, in fact I despise using the word jew to describe someone of the Jewish religion, they are Jewish.
And again why would I? I'll type again because you didn't read first time I'm from the west of Scotland so from one of the Catholic towns we rarely encounter many from different religions, is there actually a problem with that? I couldn't tell you who is Jewish and who isn't, where im from
youre best to keep your mouth shut when it comes to religion. You have no clue what religion here has done to towns and communities, yesterday for example because a football team one. Keep your patronising idiotic opinions to yourself

@Tealightsandd

Has your previous post been deleted *@MissyB1*? You referred to Israel as 'the motherland' upthread. Perhaps the post was deleted because of the anti semitism in the post.

No I bloody didn’t! Stop lying! None of my posts have been deleted as far as I’m aware because they wouldn’t need to be. If you have confused me with someone else (and I can only assume you have) then realise your mistake and own it please. I am not and have never been anti semetic and you are playing a cheap and predictable shot to shut down criticism of the Israeli Government. Criticism of that Government is not anti semetic.

Won not one*

Nice gerbil is that Larry? That sounds an awful lot like a modern Kristallnacht.

OP I'm so sorry you're having to feel this way. Absolutely do not condone the Israeli govt, but what that has to do with British Jews (or, in fact, non-govt Israeli Jews!) I do not know. Wishing you all the best.

I dunno who Larry is.

I meant to put 'is that lately?'

@BellaTheDog so to be clear I have to speak out about the actions of a foreign government in order to avoid people telling me I should be raped due to my religion

@CanOfLilt

OP I'm non observant and (half) Jewish. I feel sick to my stomach at what is going on. for you and your community.

Why do so many posters feel the need to preface their good wishes to the OP with a disclaimer about how they don't condone the Israeli government? How is that relevant to British Jews? Can't you just offer your good wishes and save your political views for a more appropriate thread?

It’s relevant because it shows how it’s possible to not agree with a political opinion but have compassion anyway. It’s relevant because some of us want OP to know that people of varying opinions on what is happening in Israel/Palestine at the moment still condemn the attacks on Jewish people here. It’s relevant because anti Israeli sentiment is NOT always anti Semitic.

@HermioneWeasley

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.

This exactly.

@mnhq when are you going to remove @BellaTheDog

Who is clearly a blonde haired, blue eyed man itching to spew vile anti Semitic tripe from his key board. Racism disguised as virtue signalling is still racism.

@Elladisenchanted I know you won’t read this until next week now but I think you’ve done the right thing going out and your dh still going to synagogue. Thoughts and prayers for a calm in your area from a Christian, MR and mixed culture house hold. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Elladisenchanted sending peace and support to you, your family and community.
British Jews are not responsible for the actions of the Israeli govt and should be able to live their lives in the UK without fear and the threat of violence.

@ginoclocksomewhere

I dunno who Larry is.

I meant to put 'is that lately?'

Larry is @BellaTheDog’S real name!! It’s in his passport!

@Hoppinggreen it's not relevant at all. Pretty sure the OP is aware there are differing opinions on the subject

Cast your mind back to 9/11 and the anti Muslim sentiments that were around in the aftermath. Would you have expressed sympathy to a Muslim poster but first made sure you made them aware that you didn't condone the attacks on the twin towers? I hardly think so. Right wing commentators who did just that were rightly criticised for doing so.

OP, my God, your fear is palpable. I am afraid for all Jews. When I saw that anti-Semitic convoy in the news and heard about the rabbi's beating, my heart absolutely sank.

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.

Why do so many posters feel the need to preface their good wishes to the OP with a disclaimer about how they don't condone the Israeli government? How is that relevant to British Jews? Can't you just offer your good wishes and save your political views for a more appropriate thread?

Exactly. This is itself part of the problem.

It's ignorance in action.

Like blaming all catholics for the atrocities comitted, all Muslims for isis and so on.

.

It’s relevant because it shows how it’s possible to not agree with a political opinion but have compassion anyway.

Why were you presuming to know the OP’s political opinion, HoppingGreen? Were you assuming she’d be in favour of the Israeli government’s actions just because she is Jewish?