To ask you to help with a cover story for my Jewish child

[Aislyn]

My eldest is at secondary school and has suffered horrific racist bullying due to being identifiably Jewish. She never told anyone, but they guessed due to her appearance, and her saying Eastern European countries when asked 'where are you from?'

Unfortunately the school has been completely unhelpful, and refused to tackle this.

My second child is starting at second and has sen. They are at even higher risk of bullying. They have an appearance that would mean that they could be identified as Jewish, especially when citing Eastern European countries in response to the above question. Can anyone think of a cover story for my child?

(Yes, I have tried to get them a place at a Jewish school, but there is none available)

I had no idea this was a thing. I do know as an Irish Catholic in Scotland with kids at a non denominational school that seems to come with an assumption I'm northern Irish protestant and lead to some people disclosing some views that raise my eyebrows.

I wouldn't have a child make things up, I'd change schools or move first but I suppose that's letting the bullies win. My kids are younger. I hope it gets better, thanks for educatig me

Mexico? The appearance you describe I would say isn't uncommon there. The islands around America are quite curly haired and olive skinned aren't they?

I am surprised its such a big issue but I've realised I dont really understand the extent of racism. I wouldn't even know which countries you'd associate with Jews tbh

Yes exactly. My husband is Indian and when he’s asked where he is from (meaning what is his ethnicity/heritage, not where he grew up), it’s never white British people asking.

I'm Indian too, and it's also never White people asking. It's always Asians of every type. I don't know whether Black people get asked too, but Asians almost always ask it of other Asians.

I think some of the posts, including the deleted one, are proving your point.

Will your surname not expose them also?

If not - could she say she's Greek?

Also just to add - I'm so sorry you're even having to ask this question.

Do you really think kids would know a Jewish surname from any other Eastern European surname?

No, I don’t want to derail but I’m also not going to leave people a clear field for Islamophobia to run unchecked.

The poster you aligned yourself with does support Farage and Reform, which I found strange, given Farage’s views on Jewish people.

depending on their age, I think that’s more of a giveaway.

especially something like Shapiro / Cohen (or anything ending in “stein” and or “man”).

You don’t think Reform having a leader who abused Jewish classmates at school suggests there’s at least some antisemitism from that direction?

So do Muslims keep to themselves or do they harass other people about their origins?

I really doubt droves of Muslims are asking about your Indian heritage, it’s not that interesting.

Most people are interested in their own heritage, not randoms.

Are you for real? Get lost.

@Aislyn my grandparents were: Polish/Russian/German (Jewish), Russian (Orthodox) English/Irish (RC).

I've always said I'm European and I'm 65. My father just said he was from Germany, because he was.

Interestingly I married a man with a name similar to Cholomondly. Frequently, white British women comment "ooh that's a funny name, where's that from, is it Irish?". My maiden name (v Jewish) wasn't commented about nearly so much.

I wouldn't think anything of the other names, they just sound like foreign names.

Stein makes me think Jock Stein Scotland manager. (Showing my age there)
AnythingMan - sounds English to me

Maybe I'm just showing my ignorance.

Can you stick to what the op is asking? This is about her dc

They may do if they've been brought up in a household where anti-Semitic views are casually expressed. And believe me, this happens, particularly with people who were raised educated in countries in the ME where Israel is not recognised as a nation (eg Saudi Arabia) or where the government's stated policy is to wipe the nation of Israel off the face of the earth (eg Iraq and Iraq's proxies such as Hamas and Hezbollah).

If children have been raised in an Islamicist fundamentalist household, they may have been exposed to, and be repeating standard anti-Semitic jibes.

Why do you never tell the people posting to me to stick to the topic?

Why do you only have a go at me when I respond to people posting to me?

I'm so sorry for your kids and you. You have responded to this thread admirably.
I do think it is worse in London. I understand that it feels victim blaming to suggest moving schools (or even where you are). It's also not a long term solution to the problems society is facing with anti semitism and good old fascism. However this isn't about the broader problems it's about your kids now. And I do think that it might be easier specifically in a Catholic school or a C of E school.
Or further out of London in the suburbs. It's not giving up to keep your kids safe.
(Like many others I am horrified at this, absolutely not acceptable from the teachers or kids. Im so sorry!)

Such denial. It was definitely said, he hasn’t denied it. He said it was ‘jokes’. And he wasn’t a child. It continued into sixth form - and that wasn’t 50 years ago since he’s only just over 60. Minimising racism isn’t a good look. Particularly as it’s just been reported that he’s made several of those Cameo videos for actual Nazis.

And for the absolute avoidance of doubt, I am not talking about ordinary & even secular Muslims. I am talking about households/families with strong Islamicist views - like the Islamicists who forced a teacher in Bradford to go into hiding, and that teacher is still in hiding.

If it’s in a society manifesto they can do a lot more than that. There are strict rules.

Could you claim to be Assyrian Christians? But to have lo⁷st touch with the language. Failing that I'd say the family was originally Italian or Spanish and I'd be prepared to change my surname accordingly. If changing first names would help I'd be prepared to do that too. And I wouldn't discount a small discreet cross or crucifix for your daughter either if it would help keep her safe. It's awful you have to do this but I'd do anything to keep my family safe.

Being anti-Farage and being antisemitic are not mutually exclusive positions. Quite the opposite I’d say.
This is about the OPs children’s experience of racism from other children. It’s abhorrent. But posters blaming the far left are just using this as a political weapon - you’ll note Farage has only been raised as a counter t9 a view that it’s those horroble lefties again. Echoing a PP, I’m pretty far left and neither I nor any of the left wing people I know are antisemitic. Not even in a ‘being ignorant of the issue’ way.
OP you have to take your daughter out of that school and report the teacher you referred to (and any others who have done similar) to authorities above the school leadership. I was a teacher for 35 years and I’m aware that some teachers (as with some of any group) can be racist - I’ve helped pupils address the issues created from time to time over the years. I haven’t dealt with antisemitic racism specifically, largely because I haven’t taught in areas with significant Jewish populations, but the principal is the same. All kinds of prejudice are increasing at the moment. It’s scary.