To stop my son from presenting as Jewish at school

[Wonderberry]

I really wish this wasn't the case.

My son wants to wear his kippah (skullcap) at school. This is entirely his choice, and something that he has chosen to start wearing recently. He just wants to express his religious and cultural background.

Unfortunately, I don't feel like he would be safe to do so. I hate that this is where we are at currently in the UK, but I know it is the reality. He goes to a community school in London, and doesn't understand why he cannot wear his kippah at school. On cultural days, he also cannot share his culture either.

I don't think religion has a place in schools, teach about various religions, but overt expression of religion shouldn't happen. One way or another religious divisions cause trouble, as well as persecution of Jews there have been and are problems between Catholic/Protestant, Muslim/Hindu, and different factions within all sorts of religions. It should all be kept out of school. Obviously what you do in terms of religion at home and on religious days are entirely up to the person and there should be no persecution of any religious group. And it's very bad that you worry that your son might be targeted for being obviously Jewish, but I would tell him to keep his natural pride in his religion at home.

Agreed. I don’t think any religious symbols should be permitted in schools, public buildings and workplaces. The focus should be on learning, work etc, not religious identity. Religious symbols promote tribalism.

Your workplace has pro Palestine stuff? Omg

I fundamentally disagree. Kids should be taught to accept and respect each other's differences, and to see such differences as being completely normal in a diverse society. Why should we want to make everyone look the same?

I’m so sorry you are made to feel this way. It makes me bloody angry. You should be safe. We should all be safe.

Why do you think that?

Tbh Jewish people also live together so we have easier access to jewish communal facilities, like synagogues, kosher food and orthodox jewish people need to live within the eruv to even carry anything on Saturday.

The street dh grew up on is mostly Jewish and his neighbour told us that when he first moved in 2002, a neighbour ranted at him that the Jewish people were taking over, and the white working class were going to disappear from the area.

My dh wasn't remotely religious when we were buying our flat but refused point blank to move to south London (he didnt feel safe in dulwich?!), his list of acceptable areas was basically a shortlist of Jewish areas. There wasn't really any justification. It did turn out to be a good decision for him as he now goes to a local reform synagogue once a week and we are considering jewish school for our son.

Agree with this. Religion is so central to so many people, to ban it is abhorrent. I say that as someone who renounced the religion I was raised in

Yep, and I say it as an atheist.

Is there? Can you point me to them?

So Are you saying that we should never be worried about antisemitism in talks about Israel, because some people weaponise it? Aren’t you not interested in the fact Jews are suffering the world over?

Ironically, one aspect of antisemitism - an aspect heavily used in Nazi propoganda - ia the concept that Jewish people don’t REALLY have it that badly and they’re playing the victim and shouldn’t be listened to when they say they’re scared. Ironic really on this thread

Tolerance will not prevail because let’s be truthful, it’s only one religion that stokes all this.

Nobody will speak its name because of course, it’s deemed racist.
Wake up people and call this out!

This cowardice has pervaded our intellectual establishments and look where we are now.
Fearful of hanging up a union flag in case 6 police officers invade our homes at the behest of our Government.

Generally not covered by the press either. The Jewish people in the UK are amongst the most peaceful and crime free you could hope to meet but (encouraged by the Labour Party's strongly anti-semitic racist MPs) there are certain groups in the UK who will attack Jews on sight.

I live in the most Jewish constituency in the UK and we voted in a Jewish Labour MP. Even with the rise of reform in London and Labour doing horribly in the polls, for now, it's still forecast to stay Labour in next election. Same constituency that voted directly for Thatcher..

It's rather ironic that posters would seek to promote Islamophobia on a thread about antisemitism.

Read my post again I didn’t blame Jewish people I blamed the government of Israel.

But what’s the got to do with antisemitism experienced by British Jews?

Do you also say in response to Islamophobia in the U.K. “Yes but look at what’s happened in Saudi Arabia/Afghanistan/Iraq/Iran, it’s escalated it”.

I guess in simple terms I want to ask: what’s your point?

I too feel strongly that people should be able to follow their religion in school and the workplace and everywhere really. I know in France they are draconian about this and who can forget scenes of Muslim women being forced to wear less clothes or leave the beach. Abhorrent.
i think it’s hard to balance safety and pride in one’s religion or race or sex, but yes as a poster up thread said many of us have to have those talks with our children to keep them safe. How to behave if stop and search choose you, how to safeguard yourself against an unfriendly environment, how to stay proud but stay safe. It reads to me like these may be new restrictions for OP or perhaps they feel bigger because it is now her child not her who is impacted.

The government of Israel is responsible for what is happening in Gaza.

The government of Israel is not responsible for antisemitic attacks on Jewish people in the UK. The antisemitists are responsible for that, and regardless of what's happening in Gaza, that doesn't let them off the hook.

I am appalled at what's happening in Gaza, but I'm also appalled by the rise in antisemitism here in the UK.

There is never anyone to blame for racism/antisemitism/islamophobia except the person who is perpetrating it. Or excusing/justifying it.

If he wants to do it you should let him. it might be OK.

How old is your son op? I’m just wondering at what level you could speak to him. Have you considered moving him to JFS (I don’t know where you are)?

Remember those riots.
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/24500422.mp-claims-far-right-riot-action-planned-north-finchley/

I don't think they ever turned up in north finchley eventually cos the counter protest was too big..the nursery was in another part of finchley but they expected to be targeted too (though it isnt in the article)..I know because my friend has a 1 year old baby girl in the nursery and they sent the children home to avoid the far right.

I don’t think that’s quite true. We can all see the rally calls to hate, be they cockroach refugees, benefit hogging disabled, terfs, blah blah. We are victims of the propaganda we absorb and wallow in.

I think we are all responsible for pushing back and saying this young boy should be able to wear his hat if school permit without fear.