Horrified by the spread of anti-Semitism in the UK

[Nancydrawn]

I read the article today by Richard Zimler, where he says that two different UK cultural organizations turned him down for a talk because he was Jewish.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/29/ive-never-met-antisemitism-in-britain-until-now

Not because he said anything controversial, not because his politics place him at an extreme, not because he's a public supporter of anything, but merely because he's Jewish. As his publicist said, "[he] told me that the final conversations he had with the two event co-ordinators convinced him that they weren’t antisemitic themselves but they feared a backlash – protests by their members and others – if they extended an invitation to a Jewish writer."

Again, this has nothing to do with Israel. There's no political cover here. It's just because he's Jewish, and it's straight up racism, and it's fucking horrific.

I don't really have an AIBU other than to say: what the fuck?

It's sickening. However, I think there has been a rise in prejudice against lots of different groups. The growth of anti-Semitism is real, but it isn't happening in isolation. There has been a rise in Islamophobia also, for example.

As a society, it seems that we have somehow given people the sense that it is acceptable to hold and express extreme views pertaining to particular sections of the population. This is a dangerous trend and I fear for where it might lead.

I think the wars in the M.E have a lot to fo with it and people are asking questions about WW2 as they should. Millions died and they were not all Jewish.

Last week i was at a community meal where 2 Jewish people, a Muslim, a Catholic and an agnostic at my table were talking about the spike in hate crime of all types in our city since the EU referendum. They concluded that these sentiments were always there but now people are more entitled to voice them. I think it makes some people realise they may need to join forces with other oppressed groups in the face of this.

They concluded that these sentiments were always there but now people are more entitled to voice them.

Yes, I think that's exactly right.

Very surprised that any MNers could have NOT heard of the Holocaust, in UK schools WW2 seems to be taught pretty much every year (probably taught so much because it's one of the few moments in history where England come out looking alright).

Aside from that, I do think it's important to keep an eye out for anti-semitism, racism, classism, homophobia, sexism etc and name and shame when we encounter it!

Millions died and they were not all Jewish.
That has been well publicised. Anyone reading about world war 2 and the Holocaust knows that.

@VeryImportantTests I assume they mean a Muslim one?

I don't understand why the two organisations can't be named. If they're comfortable with stating that they don't want a Jewish author speaking then they should be happy to defend their prejudice to the mainstream press. To do otherwise lets them off the hook, and they shouldn't be. If it's a junior event manager who's fucked up, then let that come out too. There's really no need to protect them.

Because they don't want to stoke up racism?

YANBU.

I was raised Jewish. I don’t observe at all now - multiple reasons - but my dds understand their background. A few weeks ago some shit in dd1’s class (y6) walked up to her and told her how much he likes Nazis, and he wants to kills all the Jews. The kid lost his break times for a week. If it happens again I’m going to the police.

Pleased to report that dd told her teacher: “If I don’t tell, then it won’t stop”.

Very odd that the organisations aren't named and the publicist is hidden behind a pseudonym.

We're simply to take the author's word for it.

It doesnt sound like the organisations have a problem with him or jews. I dont think theyre being racist

Theyre afraid of protests or whatever backlash from mouthbreathers.

4strings

At Year 6, it's coming from home/internet – I'd guess the latter.

Are the school able to do anything more, in terms of teaching against this shit?

And very well done to your DD for reporting it.

perking Thank you. I was very proud of her. I don’t know what the school will teach to guard against it. Mercifully she’s not going to the same high school as him.

It's appalling that this can happen in the 21st century. We have learned nothing it seems. I am not Jewish but have heard extreme anti Semitic rhetoric from a colleague years ago. I think it is far more widespread than many would care to admit.

A few weeks ago some shit in dd1’s class (y6) walked up to her and told her how much he likes Nazis, and he wants to kills all the Jews

It's shocking that a person of such a young age will have picked up those hateful ideas either from other school children or from within their family circle.

It's difficult to know how to deal with that, when that child is in education so presumably should be taught about what anti-semitism is and why it is wrong, yet there we have the next generation continuing to keep the problem alive. Depressing!

It is about what parents teach kids

Antizionism is antisemitism.

@AyahuascaTrip

Thanks for the recommendation about the FutureLearn course. I've registered for it, as the Yad Vashem is an important seat of learning as regards trying to eradicate global antisemitism, so I'm sure the course will be very informative.

I have been to the YV museum in Israel several times, and it is a place of tranquility peace and contemplation, with the eternal flame burning and such powerful (if heartbreaking and disturbing) imagery. I can recommend it to anyone visiting Israel.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=MIoZvHU3wwg

Antisemitism has taken many different forms over the centuries - it targets Jewish people in however they express their collective identity.

Back in the Middle Ages, antisemitism was targeted against the Jewish religion.

By the 1930s, when European Jewish populations had mostly assimilated into European society and many no longer saw themselves as particularly religious, antisemitism targeted Jews as an ethnicity.

Today, the biggest grouping of Jews is as a nation-state. So that nation-state is the target of antisemites.

I wish there was a way for the lessons given in schools to override anything kids pick up at home, and how to recognise antisemitism so they can decide for themselves what's right and wrong. Kids do have a strong innate moral compass, but they also show loyalty to their parents and relatives so one can unfortunately cancel out the other.

@AyahuascaTrip thank you, I'm going to do the course too, I'd like to be able to discuss anti-Semitism more clearly and know my ground better, this looks ideal.

People who wanted to know about Jewish literature, look up Amos Oz - now sadly died - one of my favourite writers and extremely erudite on Israel-Palestine. Gentler than Philip Roth (I love Roth too though).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amos_Oz

My db (in his fifties, previously intelligent) is very influenced by what he reads online and every time he opens his mouth prejudice against 'the Jews' pours out. He doesn't know any Jewish people, so it's all acquired from what other people tell him. He is so brainwashed, I despair of him.

The fb page for the small town (village) where I live is taken over by anti-Semites. Any comment they don't like will have them visiting the poster's fb page to look for photographs in the hope they might find someone who 'looks' vaguely Jewish. It's bizarre, and it's worrying.

There's also deep hatred of Jews in some religious communities. So yes, I believe anti-Semitism is rife in the UK, and rising.