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.

What a horrible world we live in that a lad proud of his heritage and religion can’t wear the things that show he’s from that religion or else he’ll be persecuted and bullied for it.
You have my sympathy op because you can’t possibly let him for fear of the danger he’ll be in.
Can you explain to him that it’s impossible at the moment due to what’s going on in the world but that hopefully it won’t always be this way and one day he’ll be able to wear his kippah with the pride that it deserves.
I really do hate the way the world is at the moment.

Wearing a kippa in a non Jewish community is a red flag to a bull unfortunately.
stop him or dissuade him. Believe me. I know.

This is so sad.

I understand why you don’t want this.

How old is your son? Is he too young to be told why?

So this is the result of the whole diversity push and "let's embrace multiculturalism" drive, is it?

Unfortunately the reality of the UK today is that it isn't safe for your son to wear his kippah on the way to school on the streets & public transport. You know the demographic & school culture so can decide whether wearing it in school is safe or making him a target.
I told my daughter (14) to take off her Star of David necklace before several NHS appointments recently. I can't believe this is Britain.

No. It isn't.

If this is what’s required to protect your son then I’d do it. Utterly galling that that allow the bullies to win. And who are these bullies anyway, a bunch of ignorant non-descript individuals with low or no morals with next to no social skills. Let’s not talk about intelligence! These are the sort that get to determine other people’s freedoms 🤷🏻‍♀️ you wouldn’t read about it!

Sorry you are having to make this choice, but he needs to understand that safety must come first.

No.

You seem woefully ignorant, here.

This is so sad. I hope you know there are many of us that actively support and will defend the Jewish community in our country, you have our solidarity x

Wow.

A Jewish (or Christian, Muslim or atheist) child belongs anywhere in the UK and should be able to show their religion in a simple way.

The OP might choose a religious based school but absolutely shouldn’t have to.

Jewish schools can get attacked too. It happened where I live.

No, we can legally go anywhere in the UK, but we belong with our own. A Jewish kid belongs in a Jewish school. Especially if they're to know anything about their heritage and what being Jewish means.

It’s not “odd” that the age is omitted, an oversight maybe?

Irs great you can simplify it as a non issue, but just shows your ignorance of the actual situation. It’s not simple as it’s not right.

OP, I would feel the same as you.

My boys are never allowed to wear theirs out.
In parts of Europe the staff have to check all Jewish symbols are hidden before the kids leave at the end of the day.
Sadly this not something new. Sadly it is getting worse.

wtf??

I disagree. I think anti Jewish aggression is on the rise, yet at the same time, weve had an increase in moves to "celebrate" diversity. What's going on?

This. I still cannot believe certain councils lined the streets with Palestine flags and refused to remove them for months. (Tower Hamlets in ldn for example)
I can’t imagine how Jews feel especially in the capital with all this going on, as if they don’t suffer with antisemitism enough.

This makes me so angry on your behalf OP. I’m so sorry you have to even think about this.

I’m not Jewish but grew up (in Canada)celebrating Jewish holidays with my close friends who are basically like family. My “auntie” wears her Star of David necklace proudly but she speaks of being nervous about it sometimes, and she lives in a liberal city! I know it’s not much but I call out antisemitism whenever I see it—it’s so insidious and I can’t believe this is 2025.

How old is your son?

I can understand why you’d feel uncomfortable with him wearing a kippah but it is a choice. I’d explaijn and let him make his own choice. Other things that might lead someone being a victim of racism can’t be removed so easily so its important that he has as much understanding as is age appropriate.

Why can’t your son talk about his culture in culture day? The school will manage it and the whole point of days like that is so that children can understand about the basis of other religions instead of hearing nothing apart from which side of a way it is linked to. Children need this learning more than ever!

So no one knows he's Jewish at school?

Even grown men often wear baseball caps instead of Kippah while walking around jewish areas in London (I live in one). Yes there are other jewish men wearing Kippah around too. But everyone makes their own risk assessment. My dh grew up wearing kippah, he says you grow up with hostile looks.

My synagogue had a donation appeal, did you know stab vests costs £80 each and we need them in multiple sizes so we can cover everyone on a rota and have constant security when we are open.

What a horrible, divisive attitude to have.

Do you think being surrounded by people of other faiths means a child can’t learn about their own religion properly?

How is segregation supposed to help?