Topic: | British Jews | |
Posted by: | Lucille Grant | |
Date/Time: | 22/05/24 16:15:00 |
Thank you for these timely reminders Mr Hawkes. In my pretty extensive knowledge about the Jewish diaspora in the UK (with the exception of the Ultra Orthodox who are so often pictured as representative of British Jews when they manifestly are not)they have assimilated into the wide British community. We have in my lifetime grown up alongside our non Jewish friends and neighbours and played a strong part in British history. As examples my British born Jewish father spent over 4 years as a POW in Burma and my German born Jewish mother made it a point to learn English and serve in the Fire Service here in London (when WW2 began) as soon as she arrived here in August 1939. Now my extended family is frightened of showing any aspect that they are Jewish when they are out and about on their daily business whether on public transport, at university and school (heaven forbid they should be bullied for the 'crime' of being Jewish) at work where they no longer wear a Star of David in case someone starts questioning them about Gaza ... I could go on but you get the drift. I have lost count of the number of people I counted as friends and close acquaintances over the past few months simply because I support Israel in its time of need. I have never supported the settlements in the West Bank nor the extreme rightwing government. But that government was elected democratically. Suffice it to day that Gaza has held no elections since 2006 when Israel left and Hamas took over. I make no apologies that this has turned into a personal essay but I feel that many posters are one sided in their views and have no appreciation about how Jewish lives have been so badly affected by the antisemitism that has reared its head since 7 October 2023. It's been unheard of in the UK since we were turfed out in the 13th century. |