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)

Just because it's in the Telgraph doesn't mean it's a lie. Plenty of inappropriate behavior can happen in the NHS even if it's banned.
From what I've read about issues in maternity care, the NHS seems to have a problem of cruel/antisocial workers not being rooted out, so that probably ties in.

A quick Google found this.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/childrens-hospital-issues-statement-after-28874025

I complained to my local trust that midwives were wearing Palestine badges on their lanyards. It is inappropriate at work, and makes patients feel uncomfortable.

There have also been cases of some NHS doctors posting horrifically Anti-Semitic content online.

Just because it shouldn't happen doesn't mean that it doesn't.

Exactly. Political badges of any kind are banned. It's unbelievable this is being allowed...

@Aislyn you need to report the teacher(s) formally here
https://www.gov.uk/report-teacher-misconduct]]

Sadly, OP is right about schools being in denial and just not getting it. At a school I used (note past tense) to work at, a Jewish parent raised a concern about an outbreak of swastikas being drawn everywhere to a deputy head and received a lecture about Palestine in return. Talk about missing point. Very distressing for parent and I was deeply embarrassed to work there.

I agree with that.

There is also terrible racism and stereotyping against Muslims, let's not forget that. It's everywhere in facebook groups.

People should know that when particular groups are targeted, they will band together and become militant because there is safety in numbers. That has happened throughout history.

Whatever anybody feels, children are not to blame for any of it and deserve protection. People also need to be careful about the language they use in front of kids because they will pick it up! Thy will hear things, are bound to, but they don't need to hear it in their home environment.

I'd have been horrified if a child of mine started talking racist or discriminated against Jews or Muslims (or anyone else), at school.

@Aislyn This is such an appalling situation for you and your children facing so much antisemitism and fear, and I just wanted to send you and solidarity, OP.

The 'go back to Poland' slur is new to me, and truly a terrible and disturbing 'slogan' for children to be adopting. These kids are being steeped in antisemitism and it's gone into overdrive since October 7th, so I'm unfortunately not so surprised at what's happening, but the denial and minimisation of antisemitism makes me so angry.

I wish I had some useful advice about cover stories, but although I'm from London originally I don't feel like I can suggest anything helpful and I'd be worried about it backfiring and making things worse for your children. But I am wondering if another tactic to help keep your children safe is asking any non-Jewish allies and friends for help with support and solidarity? Suggesting this does feel like going back to the 1930s and I can't believe I'm saying this in 2026. I haven't read the whole thread but quite a bit of it, and your replies, and I'm not sure of what friends/supports they have, if any? I understand you want to maintain their privacy and safety and not say anything too outing.

It's not a completely analogous situation but I'm thinking of a school friend I had in the 1980s where we kept secret that they had a gay parent. It was definitely not safe for other kids to know that, and as their friend I knew it was a secret we needed to keep for their safety. Obviously it's not the same as being visibly Jewish but I did know that having a gay parent made them vulnerable and I had a responsibility to be help maintain the secrecy and that if someone found out I would need to try and be a protector. Do your children have anyone/friends who could play that kind of role for them? Of course the school should be doing that but they are clearly wilfully failing your children in a shocking way.

My suggestion may not be workable for your situation (and apologies if it's totally obvious and you're already doing this) but even if not I hope your children have friends outside of school to help them feel less isolated.

I very much hope you get your younger child to a safer school and your older child can follow. Sending strength and solidarity to you and your family.

One accusation from a man based in Israel, investigated but not corroborated.

I think it needs to be drummed into you to not be so patronising.

The vast majority of Muslims are going about their lives without paying attention to anyone else, they really don’t need a lesson from you or anyone else.

You are constantly posting about Muslims on MN, it’s really weird.

Perfect script.

I agree plenty of Muslims are,,but what do you think of those links?
Are you saying those surveys showing a high percentage of British Muslims endorsing anti Semitism are incorrect or fake?

Do you mean this one was from a man based in Israel? I can't find that info.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/childrens-hospital-issues-statement-after-28874025

Hospital cover ups happen

Why do you mention 'based in Israel' anyway- does that automatically make them a liar?

It wasn't just the one allegation, anyway

https://www.pslhub.org/blogs/entry/8170-antisemitic-abuse-rises-within-nhs-and-staff-are-the-%E2%80%98worst-culprits%E2%80%99

I think that there needs to be more taught in schools about religion and tolerance, whether its about anti-Semitism or Islamophobia.

But where is the corresponding survey about what British Jews think of Muslims?

Those are never commissioned for some reason.

There are surveys conducted on views of British people regardless of faith (example below) and they are never mentioned on these threads either for some reason, it’s always Muslims, Muslims, Muslims.

According to the YouGov poll conducted with Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), almost half of respondents (45%) agreed with the claim that Israel treated Palestinians the way Nazis did the Jews — up sharply from 33% last year. Among young adults aged 18 to 24, that number surged to 60%.

combatantisemitism.org/cam-news/almost-half-of-british-public-say-israel-acts-like-nazis-survey-reveals/

There is a chronic bed shortage, patients are often treated on the floor and in corridors. I think you should have evidence before making claims.

I didn’t say it was a lie, I said it’s in the Telegraph (which has an agenda) and the language is odd. I also said a lot more about what should happen if it is true.

My daughter once spent 13 hours on the floor in a corridor. They had given her a chair, but she was having seizures, so the floor was safer. They did give me a pillow and blanket for her though 🙄.

I agree it could have been due to a bed shortage , but the post said 'the boy was removed by a nurse from a bay on a ward while wearing 'visibly Jewish' clothing.' "Due to that," the post reads, the boy 'had to lie on the floor' while being treated at one point. '

• so it sounds like he did have a bed but was then removed from it.

That goes against everything the NHS stands for. It's a multi-ethnicity machine that is only concerned with getting patients and treated and out the door. I'd wait to hear for the results of the investigation.

There is undoubtedly anti-semitism in the NHS. Until very recently, a doctor was seeing patients who said:

• ”The Holocaust was a fabricated victim narrative”
• ”Britain is totally occupied by Jewish supremacy.”
• “I will never condemn the 7th of October.”
• “The Royal Free Hospital in London is a Jewish supremacy cesspit.”
• “Hamas are oppressed resistance fighters”
• “Hamas fighters are the first real men female Israeli hostages have seen”

She is still only suspended from her role.

Thank you for such lovely words.

You are right that allies are so important for any marginalised minority group, and I hope parents reading this thread can educate their children to promote tolerance.

It’s baffling to me that so many posters have done the wide eyed “ what does British even look like?!” While happily suggesting that people can look Greek, Spanish or Italian…. !
What do Greek, Spanish or Italian people typically look like?
Well, we all know don’t we, because while of course there are many people in all this countries with genes from elsewhere, there IS a typical look.
My kids went to a pretty homogeneous English school and at pick up I could easily pick them out because almost all the children had dark blonde/ light brown hair and fair skin! THATS what “ looking British” is. It’s not a value judgement, just a fact.
I am not ethnically British, but a British citizen, like lots of people. I don’t have any problem saying someone doesn’t look typically British. It’s really silly to pretend it doesn’t exist.
It’s also baffling to me that the atrocities of Oct 7 and beyond (which I wish I didn’t know about) has led to worldwide Jew hate but then I guess that was the intention of Hamas all along.
Its certainly worked with a number of people on this thread.
OP honestly, I would try and move your children,

Tbf, I think the incredulity came from the OP saying ing that ‘London’ was not an acceptable answer as her kids don’t look British.
THAT is crazy. London is so diverse, and many, many, many Londoners look nothing like you’ve described as ‘typically British’.
Coming from London, you can look like anyone!

It’s right that she be suspended and investigated.

But funnily enough when I argued that Sandie Peggy, who regularly called Muslim and Asian patients ‘P$’, should be suspended, I was roundly shut down on MN and told that her views don’t affect her ability to practise as a nurse.