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 am not sure I agree. If this was the case wouldn’t my (black) husband and (mixed race) sons be getting abuse/issues? Have Muslim and CofE schools had to have security? I have not noticed the local Catholic school (high black and Asian population) have police escorts to and from the train station as happened with the JFS. In London this feels oddly specific. Like the war was just the excuse everyone needed to let their anti semitism sing from their chests. Perhaps I have a partial view as I work very closely with lots of Jews and live in an area of London with a big black/mixed population where families like mine are two a penny and where the idea of my kids or husband getting abused for their race seems ridiculously unlikely?

My best friend is Jewish. Her husband is not. They have two children including one with learning difficulties. She no longer wears her Star of David necklace. One of her boys said in his Year 7 religion class a few years back his mother was Jewish. Since the rise of antisemitism he came to her frantic because he was scared 'people will remember' he said it and she would be in danger. Her son with lds asked her if she could somehow remove the 'Jewish bit' from her blood so she would be safe from harm.

The stories she tells of what she has witnessed and what the very small Jewish community she belongs to in our small town area are quite hair raising.

The fear is very very real. In modern Britain. It's disgraceful.

It’s extraordinary that a thread about a boy wearing his kippah has descended within 2 pages into a) anti-Israeli and b) right wing at the same time.

This boy is BRITISH who can’t express his religion - let’s stick to that topic rather than trying to dodge the facts. He is in no way responsible for anything that is happening in other countries.

... which has nothing to do with a boy who is British and going to school in his home country.

Is there a different side to "a child shouldn't be bullied or in danger for wearing religious dress"?

Seconded.

@CuttedPearPie Who the hell do you think you are, sneering at people and basically calling them liars. There is no place in our society for people like you.

You have absolutely no idea what they teach, so don't claim that you do.
What's happening in the Israeli state is out of the control of any UK citizen.

So sorry you feel that way OP, but totally get it.

What a horrible world we live in. So sorry you are having to make these decisions

Being zionist just means you support the right of Israel to exist and defend itself.

Being zionist doesn't mean you support Netanyahu and his ilk of crazies just like being a proud American doesn't mean you are a trump supporter.

We live in a multicultural area and there had been a rise in islamphobic and general abuse to Asian people for a long time. Last summer's riots were a hot spot of it.
Absolutely it's an issue for Jewish families, the Jewish friends I have have had comments and been worried about their kids at school. The synagogue has guards on the door.
But open racism has been steadily on the rise to Muslim (and anyone Asian) before Oct 7th. Online the hatred is ramped up and people feel it's OK to express their vile views.

My friend who is black has had two incidents in the last year who people being openly racist to her.

It's becoming socially acceptable again. It was always there but people hid it but the spew coming out of Farage (and Kier yesterday) allows it to burn again.

Does he know of the problems in Gaza and see the protests in London and other cities? My small local town had an awareness protest everywhere Saturday in the town square.

Ignorant beyond belief. 🙄

This is indeed one of the saddest threads I have read, OP. Your DS sounds young? If so, regrettably I think you need to keep him safe.

It is deeply ironic and dead wrong that too often otherwise progressive people find antisemitism acceptable. I abhor Netanyahu, West Bank settlers and what the Israeli government has been doing to the people of Gaza. However is a very large leap to jump from condemning all of that to trying to justify 7 Oct or wishing for the destruction of Israel, much less exhibiting (or even feeling) prejudice against a people that have contributed so much to our world. Repulsive.

Best wishes to you and DS

Is he able to discuss the current situation and understand that some though not all people in the UK are unfairly blaming all Jewish people for Israeli war crimes? I think that to just tell him it’s unsafe to be open about who he is would be very disturbing.

Also keen to know his age as I think I’d answer differently if the child is 6 or 15.

Have you asked if religious headwear allowed in school? If not, then you don’t need to make a decision at all just say ‘school don’t allow it’

This thread is becoming very derailed from the original query.

OP - yes, unfortunately it’s currently unwise for safety reasons for your son to wear the kippah to school.

On the one hand, it's very sad that you feel the antisemitism is so bad in your area.

On the other hand I am a bit of a believer that schools should be secular, and that religious symbols etc are best left for outside school. That includes all symbols such as wearing crucifixes & headcoverings. Religion is very divisive and my personal/somewhat controversial view is that school is not the place to express it.

No I said its not only a Muslim problem. The majority of people doing this are young, White British kids. There is a large streak of anti Semitism among the Muslim commu its too, but it's not just to do with ' multiculturalism. People who are emboldened by anti Israeli feeling are out too. And many of them are White. Palestinian flags have been flying everywhere. Not just Tower Hamlets.

You are part of the problem

Sure they are.

O'Brien held up his left hand, its back towards Winston, with the thumb hidden and the four fingers extended.

'How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?'

'Four.'

'And if the party says that it is not four but five -- then how many?'

'Four.'

The word ended in a gasp of pain. The needle of the dial had shot up to fifty-five. The sweat had sprung out all over Winston's body. The air tore into his lungs and issued again in deep groans which even by clenching his teeth he could not stop. O'Brien watched him, the four fingers still extended. He drew back the lever. This time the pain was only slightly eased.

'How many fingers, Winston?'

'Four.'

The needle went up to sixty.

'How many fingers, Winston?'

'Four! Four! What else can I say? Four!'

The needle must have risen again, but he did not look at it. The heavy, stern face and the four fingers filled his vision. The fingers stood up before his eyes like pillars, enormous, blurry, and seeming to vibrate, but unmistakably four.

'How many fingers, Winston?'

'Four! Stop it, stop it! How can you go on? Four! Four!'

'How many fingers, Winston?'

'Five! Five! Five!'