• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

A Question For RF Jews

Skwim

Veteran Member
.

Consider the following article.


"Nearly a Third of American Jews Currently Fear Displaying Their Faith in Public

If the goal of terrorism is to make people live in fear, the aftermath of the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania finds that the attacker has contributed to feeling of dread even beyond the obvious horrors: One year after the mass shooting, many American Jews feel unsafe displaying symbols of their Jewishness, including yarmulkes and Star of David jewelry.

It’s not just the shooting. It’s a general feeling of anti-Semitism that has risen during the Trump era, the kind that has also appeared at White Nationalist rallies where participants yell “Jews will not replace us.”

A study released by the American Jewish Committee this week found that nearly 1 in 3 American Jews fears wearing something that might identify their Judaism. 84% of respondents said anti-Semitism has increased over the past five years.


“It’s been a rough year, and it’s been an eye-opening and awakening year,” said David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee. “Perhaps there was a time when some Jewish institutions … felt somehow more or less insulated from [anti-Semitic attacks]. The fact that the attacks took place in Pittsburgh and Poway triggered a feeling that we’re all at risk everywhere, equally — it can happen anywhere.”
Under another president, this would be a cause for concern. Instead, this administration has exacerbated the problem even when symbolic gestures were well within reach. Even Vice President Mike Pence had a Messianic Jew lead a prayer to honor the Tree of Life victims at a campaign rally. There’s also the fervent evangelical support for Israel, which is layered with anti-Jewish sentiment. They don’t care about Israel for the sake of the Jews — they just want to get all the Jews there ASAP in order to hasten the Second Coming. At which point, the Jews will be sent to hell.

The fear is that things will get worse before they ever get better. For a group of people who can’t stop talking about 'religious freedom,' the Republicans in power refuse to take steps that would allow people of non-Christian faiths to feel free."
source
Q. Do you share this fear? Please expand on your answer.

Thank you.







 
Last edited:

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
I'm a Jew by birth but don't practice Judaism so the question is more directed to those who practice the faith.

But I do find the current regime in power in Washington to be indifferent and somewhat promoting of hatred and criminal behavior toward all non-white non-conservative-Christian, non-citizen by birth groups. Antisemitism is just one part of the picture.
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
I'm a Jew by birth but don't practice Judaism so the question is more directed to those who practice the faith.

But I do find the current regime in power in Washington to be indifferent and somewhat promoting of hatred and criminal behavior toward all non-white non-conservative-Christian, non-citizen by birth groups. Antisemitism is just one part of the picture.
I think your perception of the current administration is quite justified.

.
 

Tumah

Veteran Member
I grew up in Brooklyn and I'm visibly Jewish at all times. Personally, I've always felt a little nervous leaving Jewish neighborhoods, but that may be a result of living in a slightly more closed enclave.

There's no question that antisemitism has increased over the past few years. But that's a global phenomenon, not something specific to the US, so I don't really see any reason to link it to Trump in particular, except to say that it has continued to rise in the world during the time he happened to be president.

As well, the OP's article mentions white nationalists, but it should be noted that antisemitism is not really any less prevalent on the left. For instance, we hear reports all the time about antisemitism on college campuses and universities. Jewish communities in NY just recently went through a spate of attacks by black people that lasted a number of months. These are things that I don't think you can easily attribute to Trump.

In addition, in a number of countries in Europe, you actually can't get into the synagogue for services without getting security clearance before hand. England, France, Germany, Poland, Belgium and more.

July 5, 2019
Two out of every five young Jewish adults have considered leaving Europe amid fears for their safety and four in five believe antisemitism has become a growing problem over the past five years, according to a European Union survey.

Close to half - 44 per cent - had experienced antisemitic harassment over the past 12 months.

A third of respondents said they frequently avoided wearing an item that would publicly identify them as Jewish.
-source

It's just that time of the world again, I guess.
 

Flankerl

Well-Known Member
I am not American.

Followed by a shortened recent reddit post.

As a woman I tend to disappear into the non-Jewish mass, which is only supported by my blonde hair.

I don't know a single man who walks around openly with Kippah, not to mention visibly wearing a Tallit Katan or letting the Tzitzit hang out.

On several holidays it is customary to put the Menorah or Channukiah visibly in the window.
Most of the people I know would never put them in the front windows but put them in the back windows.

Soon it will be Sukkot and so we should build a hut soon.
Will we rather build as every year a communal hut on the community grounds or will we build privately at home for all to see?
Of course on the premises of the community.

Would I openly wear a chain with a Jewish symbol or Hebrew letters? No, of course not.
Clothing with Hebrew words do not even occur to me.



Recently, a woman spoke only Hebrew and was hurled with a stone.
Weren't we safe then? What is supposed to have changed as a result of yesterday's attempted attack?
Before the attack no open Jewish life was possible in Germany and it will not be in the future.

The rejection or indifference of society runs through all strata of society as it does everywhere else in Europe.
It makes no difference to us if we cannot live openly as Jews or the majority society thinks for the umpteenth time about banning two of our religious practices.

That should not come across as rant now but you have not asked a simple question.
It is only important to understand that this open, simple Jewish life does not exist outside Israel and the big centers in exile.
And Israel is on a completely different scale as far as Jewish life is concerned anyway.


¯\(°_o)/¯
 

rosends

Well-Known Member
.

Consider the following article.


"Nearly a Third of American Jews Currently Fear Displaying Their Faith in Public

If the goal of terrorism is to make people live in fear, the aftermath of the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania finds that the attacker has contributed to feeling of dread even beyond the obvious horrors: One year after the mass shooting, many American Jews feel unsafe displaying symbols of their Jewishness, including yarmulkes and Star of David jewelry.

It’s not just the shooting. It’s a general feeling of anti-Semitism that has risen during the Trump era, the kind that has also appeared at White Nationalist rallies where participants yell “Jews will not replace us.”

A study released by the American Jewish Committee this week found that nearly 1 in 3 American Jews fears wearing something that might identify their Judaism. 84% of respondents said anti-Semitism has increased over the past five years.


“It’s been a rough year, and it’s been an eye-opening and awakening year,” said David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee. “Perhaps there was a time when some Jewish institutions … felt somehow more or less insulated from [anti-Semitic attacks]. The fact that the attacks took place in Pittsburgh and Poway triggered a feeling that we’re all at risk everywhere, equally — it can happen anywhere.”
Under another president, this would be a cause for concern. Instead, this administration has exacerbated the problem even when symbolic gestures were well within reach. Even Vice President Mike Pence had a Messianic Jew lead a prayer to honor the Tree of Life victims at a campaign rally. There’s also the fervent evangelical support for Israel, which is layered with anti-Jewish sentiment. They don’t care about Israel for the sake of the Jews — they just want to get all the Jews there ASAP in order to hasten the Second Coming. At which point, the Jews will be sent to hell.

The fear is that things will get worse before they ever get better. For a group of people who can’t stop talking about “religious freedom,” the Republicans in power refuse to take steps that would allow people of non-Christian faiths to feel free."
source
Q. Do you share this fear? Please expand on your answer.

Thank you.







I do not fear displaying who I am in public but that is impacted by two points:
1. I live and spend most of my time in areas in which being visibly Jewish is not so abnormal
2. I may be naive and overly trusting of people
 

danieldemol

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
It makes no difference to us if we cannot live openly as Jews or the majority society thinks for the umpteenth time about banning two of our religious practices.
I know people on the left are often talking about banning infant circumsising, but i’m drawing a blank about circumcising, but i’m drawing a mental blank trying to think what the other religious practice of Jews is that people are talking about banning, can you fill me in?
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
In addition, in a number of countries in Europe, you actually can't get into the synagogue for services without getting security clearance before hand. England, France, Germany, Poland, Belgium and more.
Now that's ugly.

.
 

Flankerl

Well-Known Member
I know people on the left are often talking about banning infant circumsising, but i’m drawing a blank about circumcising, but i’m drawing a mental blank trying to think what the other religious practice of Jews is that people are talking about banning, can you fill me in?

That would be kosher slaughter as it is seen as barbaric.


Now that's ugly.

.

Don't worry the US is catching up real fast.
 

Shaul

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I don’t fear anti Semitics. I serve HaShem, what can man do? I think you should have provided a link to the original source. I wonder why you don’t. Attempting to link anti Semitism to white nationalism is a red herring. Just ask Louis Farrakhan. Any Jew that fears expressing their Jewishness in the diaspora should consider moving to the State of Israel. As far as the current Administration, it is far, far friendlier towards Jews than the previous Administration.
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
Don't worry the US is catching up real fast.
No, we're not going to catch up on that. We're going to overcome hypocrisy and paranoia. We'll have a new wave of immigration and growth before the century is over, and we'll figure out how to do it safely.
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
I don’t fear anti Semitics. I serve HaShem, what can man do? I think you should have provided a link to the original source. I wonder why you don’t. Attempting to link anti Semitism to white nationalism is a red herring. Just ask Louis Farrakhan. Any Jew that fears expressing their Jewishness in the diaspora should consider moving to the State of Israel. As far as the current Administration, it is far, far friendlier towards Jews than the previous Administration.
It's at the end of the article in the left-hand corner, labeled "source." You'll find it there in all the material I quote.

.

.
 

Flankerl

Well-Known Member
No, we're not going to catch up on that. We're going to overcome hypocrisy and paranoia. We'll have a new wave of immigration and growth before the century is over, and we'll figure out how to do it safely.

No you won't.

The US is not a special country, it's just like everywhere else.


Not that long ago Poland used to be the best place to be a Jew and now it's a graveyard.
There is no reason to believe that the US will forever be safe for Jews like Poland once was.
 

Jedster

Well-Known Member
I don’t fear anti Semitics. I serve HaShem, what can man do? I think you should have provided a link to the original source. I wonder why you don’t. Attempting to link anti Semitism to white nationalism is a red herring. Just ask Louis Farrakhan. Any Jew that fears expressing their Jewishness in the diaspora should consider moving to the State of Israel. As far as the current Administration, it is far, far friendlier towards Jews than the previous Administration.

I just went to London(UK) for a short visit and spent time in my former (Jewish) community. Quite a few are seriously considering emigrating to Israel because of the possibility of Jeremy Corbyn becoming prime minister.
(Strangely enough I made aliyah in the late 60s for similar reasons)
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
No you won't.

The US is not a special country, it's just like everywhere else.


Not that long ago Poland used to be the best place to be a Jew and now it's a graveyard.
There is no reason to believe that the US will forever be safe for Jews like Poland once was.
I has indeed become just another country, and I understand what you're saying perhaps. I'll get back to you. I'll spare you promises that I can't guarantee.
 
Top