Tracking antisemitism 2

[EllaDisenchanted]

continuing on from the last thread which morphed from a discussion about antisemitism to tracking it globally.

@comedycook @humdingerydoo@stomachamelon @25milesfromhome @sharonellis @beretinparis @diamond82 @christmasmantlestatue @quantumbutterfly @edithstourton @lucywestenra
@sewingaddict @ErroltheSwampDragon @knitnerd90

I’ve probably missed people out

to start off with something positive - this was a few yeshiva students response to antisemitism ❤️🕎

https://x.com/lily4liberty/status/2001122286204805189?s=46
“Three Jewish college students from NJ were dancing at Denver International Airport. They said they were motivated to do this after the mass shooting in Australia: “We will not be scared or give in to the darkness, we will only add more and more light.” Happy Hanukkah!”

they’re playing my favourite zusha chanuka song, and one of them looks like DHs nephew who lives in America! Had to do a double take and check it wasn’t him!😆

Hi @Lindos1 . I'm not Jewish
I decided to always speak out and to vocalise concerns, on here and in real life. I have donated to the ambulance charity, (above )and also to the CST.
I have written to my MP. I am checking on my Jewish neighbours, mostly as an act of support and solidarity.
If anyone can suggest anything else, I would be grateful.

I felt awful waking up to the news this morning. And even worse when I realised it happened round the corner from my childhood home. I lived in Brookside Road and used to ride my bike around there. In fact I vaguely remember that shul being built 😢

thank you both

I don't really know beyond that - I personally think speaking out is super important. Jews are so few in number that it is extremely easy for antisemitic narratives to spread unchecked, because on our own we are drowned out.

On an interview between Joe Rogan and Gad Saad, Gad asked Joe how many Jews he thought there were in the world. Joe guessed 1 billion, 0.5 billion conservatively. Gad responds there are 15.8 million Jews in the world.
Still fewer than pre-holocaust.

To put it in perspective, as of 2020 the Brittanica online states there are approx 2.52 billion Christians, 1.9 billion Muslims, 1 billion Hindus, 744 million Agnostic, 147 million Atheist, about 29 million Sikhs, and 14.8 million Jews.

Tucker Carlson has 21 million followers between X and YouTube. That's a lot more than there are Jews in the whole world, and obviously many of those Jews are kids! Very hard to have your voice heard when the arena is stacked like that.

@EllaDisenchanted - thanks! I'm not going to stand by and say nothing, it's got so bad.
The numbers thing is interesting. Jews are in a minority everywhere and in such small numbers. The school I taught in last had 47% Muslim students. There were 4 Jewish students - who, by the way, had to take off any jewellery hinting at their heritage.

Anyone else's primary school have police stationed outside today? 😩 It's so depressing

My brother works in a Jewish school in the states and they’ve always had armed security. Uniformed and not. Awful 😞

Thx all. Everything feels so upside down. It's all so unjust. I just feel absolutely sick.
I can't imagine the anxiety of those who have children inparticular.
This should NOT be happening in the UK.

We've always had lots of security (both paid for and parent volunteers) but every time there is considered to be an extra risk to the children, the police station themselves there as well. I guess to be a more visible deterrent. I find it very stressful! We're already not allowed to queue up outside school before the gates open as it's a security risk, and the year 1 boys were all told to wear hats to cover their kippot and hide their tzitzit on a recent school trip. Things feel quite heavy at the moment!

It's appalling that the Jewish students had to do that.

But when you try to say that an atmosphere of antisemitism has been allowed to fester and deepen, the response is 'but Gaza!'

It's awful. Soon after the October attacks, 100s of them came in with the Palestinian flag painted on faces and hands, and wearing Keffiyehs. This is what I looked at every lesson until it died down. The one Jewish girl in my yr9 class, Sophie, stopped wearing her necklace with Hebrew letters. It was difficult to contain, because even the nicest, kindest children were drawn in.

Some nicer news- according to a facebook post from Ambulance Humour (who are very supportive of Hatzola)- more than £1 million public donations have come in to Hatzola since the arson attack.

That's brilliant ❤️.
The charity can carry on helping in the community.

This is good news too - 2 arrests and replacement ambulances already in place.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3v6rx6dxz6o

That's great news, on both counts. Hatzola can continue their good work today.

Now £1.4m, which is excellent 👌

I feel proud that I have contributed a small fraction of that. Under £40 plus gift aid. (That's all the give in my disposable budget this month).

I hope that there is a silent non-Jewish majority out there, and I have no doubt there clearly is.

I've also contributed, as have at least two of my friends and both of my adult DC.
All of us non Jews. ❤️

That means just so so much.

You know what, it's not a huge amount, but it helps. Also maybe pushes back on the tide of unrelenting, ill informed, judgemental and clearly antisemitic narrative prominent in the last few years.

Oh it does, it really does.

And the thing is- it's people speaking up. People saying 'No, not on my watch'.

It means so much.

I think lots and lots of donations shows them so much support! I donated £36 (plus gift aid) to send them a bit of luck and care just now. Clearly all these bits add up to so much - emotionally and practically. It can be so easy to feel despair right now (for lots of reasons, what a crazy time it's been!)

Absolutely. Not on my watch. It's that saying about good people doing nothing, isn't it? It's time for us to step up and speak out.

I think if it helps Jewish people to think, some people are decent, not everyone hates us, most people are disgusted by what's happened, then it's worth it.

I punted a bit their way, too.
I'd also be happy to donate to the synagogue where the windows were blown out by the burning ambulances.

Actually, that's a really good point, Edith. It must be such a mess.