Student complaining-religion

[totoromama]

I train adults in professional services and they do professional exams.
I'm really upset about something a student said today. I need to vent but don't think I can take it further.
I taught anything successful 4 day course with an exam.
The student in question got a really high score, she was so happy!
I leant over her to look at the score she was telling me and my pendant necklace came out of my top.
Her whole demeanor changed.
She stood up and exclaimed that if she had known I was x she wouldn't have done the course and she was going to complain.
I'm so upset.my religion has nothing to do with my job. I feel scared.
She'll complain and it'll effect me at work not for my performance.
I'm not sure my aibu.

They can't.

Have you never seen Sikh bus drivers or police officers? How do you know they are Sikh?

Go to your manager and tell him or her what you experienced. Keep your pendant on, tucked inside your clothing just as it was before it popped out, exactly as you have worn it before in your manager's presence.

Sure, as I've said, the way the student is behaving is clearly distasteful, narrow-minded, bigoted etc, and it's entirely fair to judge them for that, but just holding the opinion you do not like Judaism and refusing to associate with Jews is in no way criminal. It arguably makes you an anti-Semite, but being anti-Semitic is not, in itself, a criminal offence. Neither is being any variety of racist, a homophobe, a misogynist, an ageist, ableist etc etc

If you commit an offence, and you do so because you perceive the victim to have a protected characteristic (whether they actually do or not is irrelevant), then you have committed an offence with a Hate aggravator, i.e. a Hate Crime, but where there is no criminal offence then there can not be a Hate Crime. Just being hateful of a protected characteristic is not, on it's own, an offence.

Do you have a union?

Sorry what?! You do realise being Jewish does not equal supportive of the Israeli government? You do realise this is fundamentally antisemitic and hugely offensive?

in the same way if I work with a Muslim client (regularly) or friend (regularly) that does not mean I immediately think about family in Israel?! and then react accordingly? If I did, I would be hugely racist, equating someone who happens to be Muslim with hamas and Terrorists (they are not the same thing by a million miles!!!)

Religion is separate from politics and the political actions of any government.

This is highly offensive. The tutor was,wearing a necklace if religious symbolism not making a political statement. Imagine if the same was said about a visceral reaction to Muslims wearing religious symbols after the bombing of pop concerts & London buses by Islamic terrorists.

It sounds like OP was wearing something related to her religion, like the Star of David, and not anything to do with Israel. You can’t assume someone’s opinions on something because of their religious beliefs. If this woman is going to have a visceral reaction to anyone Jewish she will struggle in the workplace.

OP, it's immaterial what percentage of people are Jewish in the UK because religion is a protected characteristic for all faiths, irrespective of numbers. I also wish that people would stop conflating British Jews with Israeli Government policy. What she said was discriminatory and unprofessional and you should report the incident to HR as quickly as possible. Your job is perfectly safe and you should continue to wear your necklace. I'm sorry you've been subjected to this.

many people are deeply disturbed by what’s going on in Gaza and may interpret such a pendant as support for the actions of the Israeli government there.

This is a root cause of antisemitism. The Star of David is a symbol of the Jewish faith (religious) and not a symbol of support for the actions of the Israeli Government (political). In addition, British Jews are just that - British. They are not responsible for Israeli Government policy and many, no doubt, are against it.
Are all British Catholics held responsible for the sexual abuse of children by priests that took place in Ireland and other parts of the world? No, they're not because that would be ridiculous. And so is what you're suggesting.

It raises an interesting point.
Why is there seemingly such widespread conflation of the Jewish faith and Israeli gov policy?

Is it worse than other faiths experience?

I'm remembering 9/11 era was pretty horrendous for anyone Muslim, which quickly spread to anyone of a certain skin tone

Remind her that you do not live in Israel and in no way are you responsible for any atrocities that have been done there.
Report the incident to your work managers so that it is on file incase this student follows up with a complaint.
The law is on your side.

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I’m so sorry you’re going through this and hope your manager is supportive.

This is all so ridiculous.
Why are people so thick they relate an individual's religion in Britain to world events?

You as a Jewish person are not responsible for what the state of Israel does or doesn't do, in the same way that a Muslim person is not responsible for the actions of any Muslim government or organisation.

You didn't bring politics into the workplace. She did. She is in the wrong.

And I am sorry for all today Jewish people in our country who are now fearful just going about their daily lives.

The irony is the student was wearing a hijab - also a religious symbol like the pendant. The student is being racist, and as religion is a protected characteristic I would not mind betting there is something in the t&c of her course enrolment about this

Being Jewish and wearing an ancient symbol of Judaism is not pro-Israeli, just like opposing Israeli government policy is not antisemitic.

But it’s ok to wear the hijab? Double standards here.

Symbol aside, it’s interesting that OP says many of their friends are hoping to move to Israel as a result of antisemitism. You can’t conflate worldwide Judaism with the actions of Israel, of course not, nor can you judge someone for the wearing of a religious symbol. But moving to a country rather suggests they’re happy with what that country represents on the world stage, and I don’t think Israel are covering themselves in glory right now. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It means that they feel Israel is the only country in the world where they can openly be Jewish.
Anti semitism is rife atm, I'd be scared too if I was the op.

Also I'm sure there are many Israelis who don't agree with present Israeli government policies, they're not going to leave Israel though.

I would absolutely be informing my manager of this incident. It doesn't necessarily have to be a complaint from you, more of a heads up for them should she make any false claims about you.

Clearly you were professional during the course as it was all over before she learnt of your religion and while I know you shouldn't have to hide your religion I'd probably not wear the necklace to work. Not because you've done anything wrong, but to protect yourself from reactions like this.

"Why is there seemingly such widespread conflation of the Jewish faith and Israeli gov policy?"

Because most people are, on the whole, alarmingly stupid. In this case, they're confusing anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. They are not the same thing. At all.

What happened to the OP was awful and appalling, but attempting to get the Police involved is a gross over-reaction.

Unacceptable as the student’s behaviour was, we shouldn’t be criminalising it.

YOU are the victim in this interaction not her.

write down everything that happened and email it to your manager asap so if she is stupid enough to make a ‘complaint’ he has all the facts from you.

I’m Christian but I am so angry on your behalf by this women’s antisemitism.

if I’m picking a course I’m interested in the trainers experience / qualifications / presentation style - I’ve never thought to question the persons gender or religion or race etc as it’s totally irrelevant. As long as they ‘know their stuff’ and are good at teaching it - that is all that matters.

for her to tell you to your face she wouldn’t have booked your course or come to another on the basis of your faith shows not only how nasty and antisemitic she is but also how unprofessional she is.

she needs urgently pulling up for her awful behaviour and I hope your manager will back you up and go back to her organisation HR to tell them what she said and to make it clear that she is not welcome in any of your company’s courses as your company does not tolerate such discriminatory practices by any participants.

so so sorry you have to experience things such as this. I totally do 100% believe it happened - but at the same time - I can’t believe (as in I’m just do shocked ) she thought she could do this to you.

Freedom of speech does not give you the right to go around insulting others.

Really hope you report this and don’t let her get away with her appalling behaviours.

This happens to me a lot as a Muslim woman who covers in the workplace and outside. Why is everyone so shocked.
facepalm

“the mere fact they are offended does not mean there has been an offence” - is this really true? What if it had been the opposite scenario, for example if someone came to do the course and saw that the teacher was wearing a hijab, and said “if I had known the course was being taught by a Muslim I would not have attended” ?
That would be reported as a hate crime, wouldn’t it?