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 totally understand the desire of the OP to protect her son, but the omission of his age is relevant. If he is 11/12/13 ie pre bar mitzvah then parents get to decide, but if he is older teen say 16/17 then he is old enough to consider the risks for himself.

Are there any other children In your DS's school who wear religious clothing? If yes, I would discuss the matter with the school. I do understand that keeping your child safe should take precedence, it's just a shame it has come to this point where you feel worried for your child to display his Jewish heritage.

There's minimising antisemitism and there's passive aggressive snarky emojis. Yuk.

I think the point that poster was making is that we are all so careful not to be seen to offend Muslims that we stay quiet about some of the more unsavoury practices perpetrated almost exclusively by Muslim men who use hateful religious doctrines to justify their behaviour. But that we don’t exercise the same caution with Jewish people.

Except that many people aren't at all careful not to offend Muslims. I see as much islamophobia on MN and in RL as I do antisemitism.

Both are completely unacceptable in my view.

Do you think that the victims of October 7th ' deserved everything they got.'. Do you think the atrocities of October 7th never happened? Do you think people who think this are not anti-Semitic?

Because in real life, this is what I hear time and time again from Pro-Palestinian activists that I converse with. Both those I know through unrelated social groups or those I chat with who are at pro-Palestinian rallies. It won't be the first thing they say. But if you persist in disagreeing, however politely, with their position, it always comes out. Sometimes with an angry, ' Right I am going to say what I really think now.'

Perhaps you don't hear this because you are already on their side, so that don't have these type of conversations with you. Or maybe you think these things too and don't think they are anti-Semitic, but I sure do.

Your description of peace loving activists does not reflect my real life experiences.

I've recently left a social group, unrelated to the ME conflict, as a member is repeatedly allowed to post on the whatsapp blatantly anti-Semitic tropes such as ' Zionists control the western media' and when I protested to the organisers I was told ' Anti-Zionism is not the same as anti-Semitism'.

I agree - but I think Islamophobia is recognised generally in a way antisemitism isn’t. David Baddiels Jews Don’t Count book and TV show explores this very well. It predates October 7th as well

Not really, I see so many threads on mumsnet bashing Muslims. It's a regular weekly occurrence.

“Zionist” is just a thinly veiled word for “Jew”. It’s used to get away with all manner of racism.

From what I’ve seen of rallies I wouldn’t dream of going near one as a Jewish person. They’re aren’t at all peaceful, they promote hate and they promote love for Hamas - a terror group who have it in their charter to destroy all Jews.

Neither islamaphobia or anti semetism are acceptable.

One difference though and it's not top trumps...I'm not saying one is worse than the other. But anti semetism comes from both the right and left wing...and when it comes from the left wing, it's often perpetrated by those who believe they have the moral highground and are just somehow more humanitarian... therefore when you challenge it, there is denial and gas lighting.

There is a world beyond MN. And MN is not representative of RL. Read the book - it gives many many examples of how Jews “don’t count”

But you are not Jewish as you said yourself. I don't think it's right to speak on behalf of someone you are not, it's insulting to suggest or imply that all Jewish people have one view on a certain matter.

I don't get accosted - maybe thats the wrong word - but I have had this shouted at me several times by passersby when I am with my kippa wearing male relatives.

As if I personally run the Israeli government and make all their decisions.

I'm Jewish and agree with @JandamiHash

Zionist doesn't mean Jew - there are many many non-jewish Zionists (like yourself). There are also pro-palestinian Jews.

You clearly haven't been to a march since they do not promote "love for Hamas". If being Jew doesn't mean being zionist then you also have to accept that being pro palestine doesn't equate to bring a Hamas lover.

💯

Imagine having no political safety net. Corbyn did untold damage and I’m gobsmacked when people still love and support him

Sorry what? I didn’t say Jewish people think the same?

Im saying when (usually left leaning) people want to get away with antisemitism they employ the “Zionist” placeholder when they mean “Jew”. Really there is nothing at all wrong with Zionism, and I’ve never met an anti-Zionist who was also enraged about other nations settling in land or think that Muslims and Christians shouldn’t have a state of their own. They also ignore the fact that you can be a Zionist and support a two state solution.

I know Zionist doesn’t mean Jew, but it’s often a thinly veiled way of meaning Jew when people want to be antisemitic

Sorry are you saying there has never ever been pro Hamas people at these marches? Blimey you must get nothing done if you’ve been to them all!

I mean I could show you all manner of evidence that there are pro Hamas people shouting genocidal antisemitic chants at these rallies but clearly I’m wrong and you know best. Probably just those pesky Jews making things up as usual.

There’s also the issue that we Jews are such a tiny minority. Even in Israel only 70% of the population and less than 1% elsewhere. We are very vulnerable and repeatedly targeted. There are many countries where it’s just not safe for Jews to live at all. Where news of Jewish presence creates a violent riot. It’s very worrying

It was in reference your comment how you wouldn't attend a rally in support of Palestine if you were Jewish.

Social media is awash with vile comments about "zionists" or "zios" as they sometimes like to say....they must think we're stupid.

No I wouldn’t - I don’t understand how you think that’s me saying all Jews think the same?

There have been prosecutions for people openly supporting Hamas. That said there has been loads of documented support for Hamas and other terrorist groups and very little action from the police