As a Jew access to left wing spaces is via a gatekeeper. We are always, ALWAYS, asked to state a position on Israel before we are welcome. Whether it's a feminist group or a local environmental group or whatever.
Our schools have security at a level that is unimaginable to most people. I have one child at an Anglican school and the difference between the lack of security concerns there compared to the Jewish schools attended by her siblings - it's night and day.
People regularly seem shocked that they are called out for antisemitic language and behaviour.
They call it the oldest hatred. Maybe it is.
As some seem not to understand
- Judaism is a religion
- Judaism is a culture
- Jews are a racial/ethnic group
- we have our own parallel history
- we have our own legal systems
- we have our own body of literature in languages that are uniquely ours.
I have a child at a secular, explicitly atheist, Jewish school. It is culturally extremely Jewish but no prayers, no spirituality, no mention of a god is in the curriculum.
The vast majority of Jews worldwide are Zionist when the definition is brought down to the basic ' does the state of Israel have a right to exist?' Many of us have family ties to the country. This doesn't mean we are all behind everything done in the name of the state. Even if it did the constant questioning of our loyalty to the countries we are citizens in and ability to engage in any political/community discussions would be unacceptable. But it's not about Israel. The Dreyfus affair made that clear (France. Last century)
Every Jewish person I know has experience of antisemitism.
In order to give our children literacy in our culture we send them to learn at Jewish schools or outside school programs. It's impossible to give everything at home.
The fact that so many people are scared to have the fact they are Jewish known, hide it from their children, discourage their children from sharing - why is anyone ok seeing people state this over and over again and yet still argue that antisemitism isn't a real thing?
My grandmother grew up in Hounslow in the 30s. She was the only 'foreign' child at her school despite both parents having been in the country since they were babies. When evacuated with her school she was the last chosen and subjected to massive abuse due to being and LOOKING Jewish.
My grandfather was evacuated to wales - where he caused great disappointment by not having horns.
Here in Aus we use the term CALD - culturally and linguistically diverse. As a Jew I'm not expected to tick that box.
Baddiel's book is balanced, I have yet to see the show. Based on this thread it was needed. I hope that more programming is created to make it easier for others to see and call out the casual but very deeply rooted antisemitic beliefs held by so many.
Another book I highly recommend if anyone is interested in another view is Dara Horn 'people love dead Jews'.
Just this year some children's bodies found in a well in York were identified as Jewish victims of the pogrom/massacre there. Comment threads showed that many aren't sad that York hasn't had a visible community since then, over 900 years ago.