To be concerned about the rise of antisemitism in the UK?

[hibbledibble]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10447069/Terrifying-moment-Jewish-shop-owners-suffer-random-anti-Semitic-attack-London-street.html

Sorry that this is a daily mail article, but such events are common, but rarely reported on.

Antisemitism has increased at a worrying rate recently, and there seems to be little concern about this.

An example of antisemitism being tolerated, is that when footage of the above crime was posted to a local group on social media, some were saying that these men may have deserved the assault, and unpleasant comments made about Jews.

@LampLighter414

Yes big increases in all types of racism since the Brexit referendum

Tory Britain

I was going to post similar. I think all types of racism are worse now than at almost any time since the 70s, when the National Front were very active and racist graffiti was everywhere in my part of south London.

I have real issues with some of my in-laws, who are openly racist and anti-semitic and think nothing of expressing their vile views. They extend them to travellers and Roma as well, they're very much equal opportunity racists.

@onlychildhamster

my DH was once kicked out of a Green Party meeting for being Jewish. He is completely irreligious.

That's appalling. Did he complain?

@LakieLady

I think it has become legitimate now - some of those old NF types were quite clear that they were fascists. Now, the racism is there and the internet has allowed people to construct/believe in the constructions that wrap around the racism

[quote MmeSosostris]@LakieLady

I think it has become legitimate now - some of those old NF types were quite clear that they were fascists. Now, the racism is there and the internet has allowed people to construct/believe in the constructions that wrap around the racism[/quote]
I think you're spot on. The racist and anti-semitic far right used to be separate, now they're everywhere.

The whole 'But Israel' thing is clearly a red herring anyway. After all, it's not like Buddhist temples have been targeted following the Rohingya genocide (a million times worse than anything that has happened in Palestine) or Russian Orthodox Churches after Chechnya or similar or, indeed, Chinese institutions because of the Uighur. But Jews? Oh, that's because of Israel.

@Sashimimimi

Err who has actually been at the top of UK politics over the last 12 years? and what is our PMs views on Muslims etc.

Racism of all kinds has never really gone away, anti-Semitism is alive an kicking, as is Islamophobia.

This thread is about antisemitism.
Not “racism of all kinds”.

You will never address the scourge of anti-Semitism unless racism of all kinds is also dealt with.

Personally, i was disappointed the thread was politicised but if you wish to do that, then please then accept that anti-semitism has increased rapidly under the Tories.

Politics reflect society and we are not one at peace with itself.

I would just like to say thank you to all the non-Jewish posters who have extended their support, lit candles, and not minimised anti-semitism. It means a lot.

@Mynameisnew it can be quite hard to count Jewish people..the people who marry out is around 1/3. Of course a lot of the people who marry out would still consider themselves Jewish but it's quite likely the children may not esp if the Jewish person was the father and the non Jewish partner was Catholic or C of E. My synagogue is liberal and they do recognize the children who are raised as Jewish from such mixed marriages as Jewish but orthodox synagogues are the majority and they don't. Also are they getting the Jewish population from household census or from synagogues. It cost money to belong to a synagogue; many of the most religious people I know (esp the orthodox) don't belong to a synagogue!

@AnnieLobeseder 2 of my husband's sisters have made Aliyah. One could not afford Tel Aviv so moved to bat yam! You know, bat yam where the last riots started...I think it's because intellectually it's tiring to keep defending who you are, but in Israel everyone is Jewish. When I take a lot of leave in September, I feel like I have to justify myself (bosses have made comments). In Israel, there is none of that.

That attack was horrendous, I don't understand why he did that, just pure hatred I suppose.

I have to admit I don't really know anything about the current problems with antisemitism. I live in an area that doesn't have a Jewish population so I've only seen the very occasional story. This thread has been eye opening. I don't understand why it isn't more widely reported.

I'm not Jewish but care very much about this. Just wanted to say you are not alone.

@onlychildhamster We've made the choice that having bosses not be understanding about leave in the holiday season is far preferable to having rockets launched at us, but isn't it awful that anyone needs to make those choices at all?

@Maireas

I will light a candle, I'm not Jewish. I am, however, it History teacher and have been teaching the Holocaust. Two students have claimed that it's made up, there's no such thing. This is what we're up against.

That is shocking - where do these young people get these abhorrent views from - parents?

Antisemitism began with the Romans, was used by Christianity and the political system over centuries to distract from the current crisis of the time and is endemic in any culture with any European influence, not with the majority but with the minority who are easily blindsided those trying to divide society for their own gain. We need to not only teach what happened during the Holocaust but how Europeans were prepared for it, the books produced for young children with vile stereotypes, the isolation of a section of society so the media could be used to stress the ‘otherness’ of them, the hiding of the reality by the Nazis who built the death camps outside of Germany. Most of all we need to introduce critical thinking into the curriculum, get rid of the tick box education currently pedalled and embrace intellectualism and curiosity so click bait becomes ridiculed by all. Everyday life is difficult at the moment, those in control - and it’s not just the government- are looking to offset the blame, as a population we need to challenge the narrative that it is those who are different from us that are responsible, it is not refugees it is those who produced the horrors they are running from, it is not a Jewish conspiracy it is the billionaires who are happy to increase their wealth through the misery of others, it is not the pandemic it is those who have used it for individual advancement. We have also to challenge the casual racism- and antisemitism is racism- when ever we encounter it, something I have to do with soul destroying regularity with some of my relatives by marriage.

This is absolutely terrible and I really feel for all those affected 🧡

I have a question that I hope is ok to ask and that I hope isn't offensive as that is not my intention at all, but if it is please someone let me know and I will report my own post and learn from this. I don't understand how street attacks come out of the blue, as unless they are part of the Hasidic community, how would anyone know that they are jewish on sight alone? Once again, I'm sorry if that is an inappropriate question.

@EllaDisenchanted

I'm an orthodox Jew. The security on synagogues isn't the biggest outrage. It's the fact that my toddler's nursery has permanent security that should be outrageous. As does my older children's primary school (and the high schools).

We didn't have security when I was growing up (went to Jewish orthodox schools). Now it is so standard on every Jewish school and nursery and Synagogue, across every spectrum of orthodoxy, that it is utterly unremarkable to my children.

Likewise, although I’m not orthodox my DC is at a Jewish secondary. You can’t get anywhere near the building and when you go for parents evening the security is ultra tight. I also work at a Jewish organisation and it’s the same. I also went to Jewish schools and there was no security really - this was when the NF was rife, so what happened?

@Blackbird1234

This is absolutely terrible and I really feel for all those affected 🧡

I have a question that I hope is ok to ask and that I hope isn't offensive as that is not my intention at all, but if it is please someone let me know and I will report my own post and learn from this. I don't understand how street attacks come out of the blue, as unless they are part of the Hasidic community, how would anyone know that they are jewish on sight alone? Once again, I'm sorry if that is an inappropriate question.

Some Jewish men wear Kippot (skullcap), kids in uniform of Jewish schools are targeted. It’s that sort of thing.

@Blackbird1234

This is absolutely terrible and I really feel for all those affected 🧡

I have a question that I hope is ok to ask and that I hope isn't offensive as that is not my intention at all, but if it is please someone let me know and I will report my own post and learn from this. I don't understand how street attacks come out of the blue, as unless they are part of the Hasidic community, how would anyone know that they are jewish on sight alone? Once again, I'm sorry if that is an inappropriate question.

If they are random street attacks then they do tend to be against people who are identifiably Jewish, such as the Hasidim or even a man wearinga kippah. If you have seen the video of this particular attack, the men are obviously Jewish. Other times it's people coming out of kosher butchers or supermarkets. Or synagogues.

JustDanceAddict TwentyPast - Thanks so much for explaining!

[quote Mandatorymongoose]@sansucre I know Jews are a race as well as a religion. I put my ethnicity as Jewish on forms but usually put my religion as none, as this seems the most sincere way to express my personal heritage (I've not been in a synagogue in the last 20 years so claiming the religion seems a bit much).

But, people are busy arguing online that that isn't the case and I know that it isn't an isolated view. My point, maybe badly made, was it is one of the reasons why it is easier for people to dismiss antisemitism, because it's "not like its racism". [/quote]
On forms, I have started selecting 'white other' and even through I'm not really a practising Jew and didn't go to synagogue, speak Hebrew or keep kosher growing up, I do tick box when asked about my religion as I feel it's important to be counted as a Jew - after all, my mother was a Jew, I was born a Jew and irregardless of my religious practices, I will always be a Jew. (That said, in recent years, I have started to observe more high days.)

Anyway, I understood what you were trying to say. Ignorance is at the heart of the problem. As I have said in my other posts, I think the main issue with the term antisemitism is that it conceals what it actually means - hatred of Jews. Add in the confusion/ignorance about Jews also being a race/ethnicity coupled with the fact that many Jews are white makes it harder for others to grasp that Jews experience racism too.

Usually those arguing online aren't even Jewish, and that my friend is another part of the issue, (and something I have experienced and fallen out with non-Jewish friends over).

I’m worried I’m going to sound incredibly ignorant by posting this as I am non Jewish and do not even know any Jewish people in real life but I really do not understand why as a society we had the whole “black lives matter” movement thereby so many publicly speaking out against racism / prejudice not too long ago (and still ongoing) and yet it seems socially acceptable to hate Jews? It seems so odd. I really just don’t understand any of it, and I’m so sad to see so much hatred creeping up in the world. Why are people so against racism and prejudice against one part of our society and not another….? Where are the mass protests and media coverage?

@EdithStourton

Never come across antisemitism in my life. I'm not Jewish, and I have. Including from a Highland Scot.

It's pernicious, and widespread.

Thank you ❤️. I wrote and rewrote and deleted before sending a couple of posts last night re that post your quoting, it's exhausting when people pretend it doesn't exist.

Felt particularly gas lighty naming places in caithness when the labour candidate at the last election got deselected for antisemitism . It exists and it being acknowledged as existing is the first step.

This thread has been a heartbreaking read. I am so sorry to all of the Jewish people who have spoken here, and those who have not, that this is a thing you face daily.

I lived in the travelling community as a child, so I am well aware of the faux innocent attacks suffered by white or white appearing minority groups in the UK. It astounds me and always has, the bizarre distinction many people seem to make between racism and anti-Semitism and xenophobia. I cannot comprehend why the former is socially unacceptable, but the latter seem a bit distasteful at best. I have noticed the rise in anti-Semitism - I discussed it at length only the other day. I am not Jewish, I have no Jewish connection, but I see and I am disgusted and disturbed.

@sansucre - that is why I put 'look' I quote marks, as I know 'looking Jewish' is not a thing. I often point out that someone who is not Jewish but is considered to 'look Jewish' and has a name that could be Jewish (sat, Simon Schneider) could experience more antisemitism than I do!