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 wasn’t ’but Israeling’ -I was wondering if he knew why people were pro Palestinians. If sheltered from the news he might not know that anti semitic sentiment has risen.
And I wasn’t talking about anti Irish sentiment (anti -English is found in Ireland) I was highlighting Catholic/protestant animosity still rife today in Scotland but mainly found around football.

@minnienono - hang on a minute? It's ok to be Jewish as long as you are vocally anti Israel and pro Palestinian? Is that what you're saying?

My workplace has weekly demonstrations and they yell terrible things so I work from home on Fridays now as I got caught up in it coming home one day.
This is appalling. Such companies or workplaces should be called out as it’s completely unacceptable on every front. I hope their shareholders or owners know what’s going on as anti-semitism is a bad look for business.

Yes although anti semitism has been around before 7/10 I think in the current situation it's relevant to the anti semitism today to give it context of why it's increasing again. It would be silly not to give it context given this is a current situation OP is worried about..so yes the war does get mentioned. I.e. After 9/11 if we were talking about the heightened islamaphobia after then and not to mention 9/11 in context of why there was this sudden peak would again make no sense not to.

It's not de railing the thread it about giving OP all sides. Muslims who have visable identiers if being muslim have lived similar experiences, similar worries with our own dc as OP.

Does it matter what level of knowledge about the Middle East conflict this boy has? Why should it make a difference whether or not he wears a kippah?

I’m so sorry OP

"I don't know why you're fussing about it"!? Bloody hell, are you thick or is it racism that is causing you to downplay this parent's, sadly, very valid sorry?

Christ, I thought we'd moved on from the racist rhetoric of collective responsibility for atrocities about twenty years ago, when people finally seemed to understand that it wasn't ok to demand that ordinary British Muslims vocally condemn terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic fundamentalists.

I would say OP and other Jewish people have had to get used to 'being given all sides' for far too long now. There is one side. It really is just an exercise in minimising the long standing oppression. As I said before, oppression that predates 7/10. There's so much ignorance on this thread. 🙄

It's just an excuse for antisemitism, casting around for "reasons" and expecting a boy to take a particular stance on a conflict before he has the temerity to wear a kippah in public.

If he's not safe to wear his kippah to school then that school is not a safe place and you should remove him and find a school where he is safe.

"I am aafe so long as I don't let others know who I am" is not safety. He deserves safety and cannot thrive until he has it. This is a hierarchy of needs thing (see image) - without safety he cannot achieve self-esteem or meet his potential in any field of endeavour.

I didn't realise Jewish people had to have an opinion on Israel. And I take it from your comment that only one opinion would be accepted or else they'd be a bad, bad Jew not worthy of protection in the UK?

I don't need to discuss international politics in order to be allowed to feel safe in this country.

Exactly. So not only is he facing persecution for his religion, he has to carry the weight of a conflict on his shoulders. Unbelievable victim shaming and passive aggressive comments. All too predictable, I'm afraid. The usual derailment.

It's not about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, @RareGoalsVerge It's about not accepting antisemitism.

That’s what I think when people talk about “Jews against Israel” - like it’s the only valid opinion Jewish people could have. I know far more Jewish people who support Israel and are acutely aware they may need Israel one day (probably sooner than we think)

Have you been living under a rock? Don’t you watch the news?

I'd say that was a pretty ignorant response in itself. OP hasn't asked for only responses from just a Jewish perspective have they? They've come onto a public forum so woukd get people from all backgrounds and experiences replying, some like me have lived experiences similar to OP and her son. Juet under the banner of a different faith. Me replying as a muslim doesn't ' minimise' OP concerns.

I am mindful of all the girls I teach who wear hijabs. Should they only wear them if they also wear a badge saying "Free the Hostages"? No, because hostage taking has nothing to do with a Yorkshire teenager who wants to wear the symbol of her religious beliefs.

I live in an area with lots of visible Jewish people and Muslims. Probably the most visibly Jewish people you can have. I'm not saying that things don't happen, racist abuse happens across the country every day. Nobody around here is trying very hard to be less visibily Jewish though. They can't really. Just like I can't be less visibly Black.

I can't quite gather whether you're posting in good faith or not, so I shall cease further engagement.

Hmmmmm...

It’s an absolute disgrace what’s happening in this country and I completely get your fears. The Jewish people don’t deserve any of this

Right?!

I'm also shocked that some seem unaware. It's never gone away, and has ramped up alarmingly since October 7. I'm not jewish, but DiL is, and every synagogue I've ever been in, from grand city ones to those housed in brick bungalow type buildings in suburbs, have had security. And this was before the Hamas attacks too.

I've also clocked plenty of anti semitic graffiti. I think those who literally wear their faith are very brave indeed.

If anyone wants to learn about anti semitism in an accessible way, grab a copy of David Baddiel's Jews Don't Count.

This makes me so, so sad. But I understand your thought process as an adult and parent. I also understand your child wanting to share something very important to him. Unfortunately I would suggest saying no, but start by having open conversations about what is going on in this horrific world. So sorry you have to feel like this. But also want to say it is lovely your son feels so safe and happy with his religion that he wants to opening show it, it is lovely to hear such a strong connection at such a young age.