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)

What do school say about this? You have to have made a formal complaint.

This is so appalling op. I work in a Secondary school and we've had extensive training on equality and it would be very clearly unacceptable in my xchool for children to be making your children feel this way. Have you reported this to the LEA and Ofsted?

This

and yes “passing” Jews found it easier to escape persecution in ww2/ throughout history, just as “passing” POC aren’t exposed to as much racism as darker skinned / more obviously POC

Similar here, I work facing the public and I am often asked if I am Greek/Spanish/<insert other Mediterranean country>. Some people ask if I am Jewish. It's not so much of an issue with me as an adult, but I never tell the public.

So for those that don’t get. If you were a Jew in Germany in November 1938 you think saying you were from Berlin would have stopped you being persecuted? Or maybe you’d have tried to come up with a reason for you not looking like an Aryan princess without saying yes I’m Jewish?

Fun to be in the UK right now for kids who have basically volunteered for the Hitler Youth league. Not so fun for their victims.

A cover story to deny your heritage?
I mean yeah he could say he was from hundreds of different countries or backgrounds where there aren't many Jewish people?! But that's not the solution.

The school needs to sort it out. I wouldn't be sending my kids there if they had to make up lies about who they are to stop racist bullying.

Yes, I have done everything possible. Unfortunately it has come from staff as well as pupils and is very much part of the 'culture' of the school.

What do you mean? Do you doubt the op’s experience?

If the school won’t help with racism, unfortunately the only answer is to move schools or home educate until a suitable school place becomes available. Have you contacted the governors of the school, the CAA or your local MP?

Another useful link:

https://www.met.police.uk/notices/antisemitism/antisemitism-and-how-we-define-it/

OP, previously I posted to take it higher. Report it.

Yes, CAA and CST have been involved. They have helped as much as they can.

Yeah exactly 😆

im from Berlin! Berlin Berlin Berlin! Berlin town Berlin! Nowhere else! Nowhere else. What do you mean I don’t look like I’m from Berlin? What does a Berliner look like then? <gets head blown off>

on the other hand, to ensure the captured all Jews, not just those who look stereotypically Jewish, they introduced the necklace. So even the Nazis couldn’t always tell.

Well absolutely they do, but if the people asking the question are determined to know ‘where you’re really from’ then ‘London’ is not going to be an acceptable answer to them is it? Plus in a London school I imagine the kids asking the question are unlikely to all be ‘white British’ themselves, so I’d save my snark for them and not the OP.

OP I have no constructive suggestions to add, but I am so, so sorry you and your children are going through this. That you even have to ask this question is appalling. Racism of any kind is never acceptable.

They are questioning why it's apparently useless saying "from London" when Londoners are the most diverse population in the UK

It could be that the people persistently asking the questions do not identify as (first and foremost) British either, even if they were born in Britain, so telling them you are British won't satisfy them. I'm a second generation Indian, and I get persistently interrogated about my background from people within the Pakistani community locally (with whom | work). Telling them I am a born and bred Midlander just results in the, "Where are you really from" question, before they move onto religion. Telling them I am an atheist doesn't satisfy them either. The very purpose of the questioning is to establish your differences, not to accept that you are the same as them.

Absolutely this

There was another recent post from someone having similar issues who said their MP was part of the problem! @Aislyn is your MP likely to be helpful?

Though it seems quite astonishing to me, I do believe what the op is saying.

I have witnessed countless incidents of bigotry against many people of different ethnicities in my lifetime, especially years ago in the workplace, and nothing was ever done about it. Sometimes the people dishing the racist or whatever talk (white British), didn't even believe they were being racist and thought the things they were saying were normal! It was quite horrifying, especially when done in front of me with a laugh in the belief that I would be in on it.

I rarely, however, encountered anti-Jewish feeling though there would sometimes be rather banal jokes (behind backs of course).

That generally seemed to improve in the 1980s and 90s.

Now it is rearing its ugly head again in Britain, encouraged by the likes of the Reform types, GB News and Britannia. Facebook is full of it!

I'm truly sorry for the op and her children. I can only assume she lives in an area where there are racial tensions; it's unfortunate that kids pick up things they hear their parents say. I live in SE London, not far from Chislehurst, and nobody gives a flying thingy about anybody's ethnicity. People generally rub along OK and the schools are fine. My ex neighbours are Jewish, she is a local girl, he from Israel. Their two children went to the local grammar and were very happy, had a great social life.

No child should have to lie about or hide their ethnicity or their religious tradition.

What can we do about this rise in antisemitism - and rise in racism/bigotry generally ?

I absolutely get what you are saying OP, I personally can easily recognise if person has Jewish heritage so yes some physical features do give away.
I can’t see why naming the country were you came from would be an issue unless it’s Israel. If it’s Poland I wonder if the problem with your daughter was that she couldn’t “provide” traditional Polish references e.g religion related. what I’m saying that you can say Romania or Moldova but if there are children from Romania in school they will be interested in your child and it will be obvious soon that your child is lying.
I would say that Russia would be the simplest option ( it’s a very big country with many ethnic types) however this option might not be good for other reasons. But equally there might be other Russian children at school.
I think you need to give us more details to work out a solution but from the other side you need to be more active in tackle bullying. You need to be complete pain in the arse for school and local council. I would strongly advise to raise the issue with your local MP.

I think you can, if you try.

I agree with a lot of your post but I disagree where the Anti-Semitism is coming from. Unfortunately in my experience it is most prevalent from the left wing.

The issue is that naming Poland, or another E European country, only confirms that they are Jewish, along with their appearance.

I get where you’re coming from OP and it’s so sad this is happening in 2026.
A few of my family members have dark hair etc and are asked where it comes from, we know it was from my Grandad but not sure. I’m fair/light hair so I’m never asked those sorts of questions, I do get the ‘British’ comment.
If they do answer ‘London’ they could just leave it at that but the school should definitely be taking it seriously.

Yes I have made a safeguarding referral to the LA, and asked the school to do so

I just googled and apparently there is only one Uppingham Road in the country. Who'd have thought?! Should have said Beaver Street 🤣

The staff?! This is outrageous.