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.

It's a classic antisemitic trope. "All Jews are guilty. Therefore they are all deserving targets of hate"

To be fair to this very strange person, Jews aren't actually very popular at this moment. But I guess where we start to disagree is that I don't think that's quite fair!

Tony Blair wasn’t a Catholic, his wife was.

Wow, unfortunately this post has really brought the Anti-Semites to the front. I hope MNHQ will ban these posters.

Sadly, it really illustrates why I'm afraid for people to know he is Jewish. This is why I worry about 'seeing how it goes', as once people know he is Jewish the bullying may not stop. In answer to one of the questions, I'm worried about both the journey to school (which he will obviously do with an adult given his age) and in school. Yes he could hide is outside school/only wear it in school, but I'm still worried about what would happen in school.

He is inspired to wear his kippah as he has made friends with some children who wear theirs (these children are not at his school).

As well as distance being a reason why he is not at a Jewish school, I also believe he has a right to attend his local community school, and that there should be integration. Some recent events have sadly made me question this though.

"Jews aren't popular" suggests that it's their fault. Unpopularity is usually the fault of the person.
They are not "unpopular". They are targets of hate.

Absolutely. We have terrible education on racism in this country if people are so unable to see their own racism even when its as blatant as this.

Are the other children at a Jewish school?

can he wear one when playing with them for now as a compromise while you wait and see?

FWIW I never report posts I’d rather see them kept up and it’s frustrating when so many are deleted and the context is lost.

My parents live in Australia. From the 'never tell' my father is now defiant and wearing his kippah. He has been spat at. He has been refused service in cafes. He walked into a dentist appointment and the dentist walked out and said she would not treat him

This is absolutely appalling. Australia seems to be really awful for Jews.

That's a good idea @EllaDisenchanted

My family also had to flee Ukraine due to pogroms, however we never had this idea of never tell. I'm sorry to hear that you have to live this way.
I don't hide that I'm Jewish from anyone in my surroundings (I have a friend who was brought up to think that she was Russian to the point where her parents denied her contact with her grandfather so that she doesn't pick up any jewishness and I think it's so sad), but I wouldn't go around with something that identifies me to strangers just because of idiots. Muslim women don't have to do that generally, although in Canada where I live there is an anti-islamic mouvement as well, but I don't hear that they are attacked.

It’s basically the reason why, when they were marched into Ghettos in Eastern Europe, people stood by and applauded rather than being horrified and stopping it. Brainwashing that everything is their fault and they deserve their fate.

I think he should express his religion

Sadly, @Wonderberry , I think you're right. You're right to be fearful, and sadly, you're right to think that adults will target your son, because we've had it confirmed on this very thread. He will be blamed for Gaza, because according to several posters, he's Jewish, so he's guilty.
I am very sorry, what an absolutely horrific situation to find yourselves in as British people, and for your child to grow up in this poisonous atmosphere.

That's an awful post... All children belong in community schools.

yeah it is right now. I was there over Christmas and it was quite jaw dropping. My father is slightly involved with the Anti-Defamation Commission and so he knows more than what is even being reported. It's a scary time.

Blair converted to Catholicism. He was Catholic

OP I’m so sorry this thread has made it just more difficult for you to make a decision. I don’t blame you if you didn’t want him to wear it. You can’t even come on an online forum for mum’s without antisemitic half wits spouting nonsense. I hate this for you, I really do and I wish I could do more to help

I don't believe you.

I have reluctantly voted you are Not unreasonable in order to keep him safe however I am very much saddened that you have to do this 😢. We live in scary times .

No. We have excellent anti racist education. However we're up against things people believe because they're on TikTok. They believe lies and manipulation. They believe that Gaza has an easy solution and Jews, globally, are to blame.

Don’t you? Oh well. I’ll get over it.

My kids went to a Jewish school and would take the kippah off immediately after school.

You are right to be fearful.

Your son should feel proud to wear a kippah but I fear, in London at the moment, if you could suggest he only does it with these friends that might be the wisest thing to do.

It's very sad.

We need education specifically on anti-semitism. Tropes like “Jews spoil their children” and “Jews run up debts” that some fuckwit said earlier are actually steeped in deeply hateful and ancient antisemitic tropes, stemming from a time when Jews were forced to be debt collectors, and this needs to be a mainstream understanding.

I actually saw him at Mass in Westminster Cathedral once.