Another appalling attack

To keep Jews safe in our country Labour must stop pandering to their core voters! The way Labour has pandered to them since the GE is what has escalated the violence and hatred towards the Jews.

valdali

twaddle

Galaxy

It is odd when these mental health episodes target Jews rather than I don't know Hindus or catholics, it seems to be a very specific type of 'mental health'.

They don't. The Southport girls and the students and grandfather in Nottingham weren't Jewish.

Nor was Jo Cox. Thomas Mair was a neo-Nazi but he murdered Jo because she campaigned for Remain and did work supporting refugees.

David Ames MP wasn't Jewish either. He was murdered in 2021 by Ali Harbinger Ali, a terrorist motivated by the Islamic State propaganda against MPs who voted for air strikes in Syria,

I understand your argument of damage limitation WW, but instructing anyone how they should dress particularly as to ethnic/religious attire is an emotive subject. Look at the furore we've had around the more extreme versions of Muslim attire when it's been suggested that's been a barrier to integration. In any case, in certain Jewish enclaves, an Orthodox Jew would be easily identifiable from features such as hair, women in wigs. The follow through on that suggestion would be "maybe they shouldn't go out" Similar in a way to the "Ripper's " reign of terror where that was mooted to women. It takes the onus of those who are responsible. As I mentioned previously this man was free to roam and as pointed out by Iam there are those spurred on by politicians who are fanning the flames of hatred.

Would it help if for that period the Pro Palestine peaceful protests desisted
YES

and Jewish men refrained from wearing distinctive clothing in public?
Now that's a really difficult one to answer. The clothing is an expression of their culture and identity. It's their heritage, so why should they have to give it up?
On the other hand, could alternative ways be found of expressing that identity that don't draw attention to appearance? In the interests of personal safety?

TheatreLover

valdali

twaddle

Galaxy

It is odd when these mental health episodes target Jews rather than I don't know Hindus or catholics, it seems to be a very specific type of 'mental health'.

They don't. The Southport girls and the students and grandfather in Nottingham weren't Jewish.

Nor was Jo Cox. Thomas Mair was a neo-Nazi but he murdered Jo because she campaigned for Remain and did work supporting refugees.

David Ames MP wasn't Jewish either. He was murdered in 2021 by Ali Harbinger Ali, a terrorist motivated by the Islamic State propaganda against MPs who voted for air strikes in Syria,

Ali Harbi Ali

love0c

To keep Jews safe in our country Labour must stop pandering to their core voters! The way Labour has pandered to them since the GE is what has escalated the violence and hatred towards the Jews.

If that were the reason, violent acts against Jewish people would be a UK phenomenon only, which sadly it isn’t. We need to do everything we can to make the UK safer for them, and we need to recognise too that we are not alone in this, and learn from, and work with other countries to address the underlying issues.

In BBC last night there was an interview with a Jewish man moving to Israel. He said he didn't feel safe here in Manchester. I'd never have guessed he was Jewish. Friends who happen to be Jewish just look like everyone else round here. It's hard to know how they could be picked on. Genuinely puzzled.

You wouldn’t guess I was Jewish either Aveline or many Jews I know as we go about our daily business but there are Jewish schools, residential care homes and synagogues that are well known in their neighbourhoods, also kosher shops and cafes.
Jewish businesses too.
That’s apart from all the Orthodox Jews who wear distinctive clothing.

Love0c* spot on 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I think you have to make a distinction between Reform Jews and Orthodox Jews. As you say Aveline, often there aren't any stand out physical features that would define them as such. Keir Starmer's wife being a prime example. Sometimes there are those that do look particularly Jewish, such as the late Amy Winehouse, but similarly she could have easily passed as either southern Mediterranean or even Egyptian or Turkish at a glance.

They're easily identifiable on their Sabbath going to and from synagogue, often in family groups, particularly in a Jewish enclave Names are also a pointer, I learned that when I worked for a Jewish firm. Look no further than Marks and Spencer, one of the founders a certain Mr Marks was Jewish.

MartavTaurus

^Would it help if for that period the Pro Palestine peaceful protests desisted^
YES

and Jewish men refrained from wearing distinctive clothing in public?
Now that's a really difficult one to answer. The clothing is an expression of their culture and identity. It's their heritage, so why should they have to give it up?
On the other hand, could alternative ways be found of expressing that identity that don't draw attention to appearance? In the interests of personal safety?

We wouldn’t ask a Muslim female to not wear their hijab or niqab, we wouldn’t ask a Sikh male to not wear his turban.

So why on earth should we even be contemplating asking our Jewish friends and neighbours to make themselves appear less Jewish by men removing their kippah (skull cap), Tallit (prayer shawl) or Tzizit (fringed garment) or the garments of Hasidic Judaism?

Jewish is who and what they are…

My father was Jewish and l never knew until I did the Ancestry!

👏👏👏GrannyGravy

My maternal grandfather was half Jewish, again Ancestry and confirmed with DNA and through a distant cousin. I so wish I'd found that out before my mother died.

Oreo

Love0c* spot on 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

No, she isn’t. The escalation of attacks on Jews is worldwide, regardless of whether governments are socialist or conservative, and marches are banned or not. Terrorism does not respect political regimes. Of course our government should be doing more, but let’s not fool ourselves that when they do it will stop terrorists.

The Jewish line in my line of the family tree died out when a male married a non Jewish female as it descends through the female line. Other lines have remained intact.

I think the suggestion that Jews should stop in the words of that misguided policeman at one of the early marches "being visibly Jewish" is appalling. Just another aspect of how easy it is to be antisemitic in broad daylight. It would never be suggested for any other group.

Letter to Westminster Councillor, Laila Cunningham from Mr. Phil Crawford, a resident of Altrincham, ordinary working chap, who is Jewish. Mr. Crawford - I take my hat off to you, with a tear in my eye.

We Used To Be Happy In Britain - April 24th, 2026

Dear Laila,

For many years, British Jews felt comfortable in the UK. We assimilated, we integrated and we were accepted. We worked hard, we prospered, we improved ourselves. Our lives were not complicated - we never caused trouble. We paid our taxes and I believe we enriched society. We attended synagogues and prayed freely.
After 7/10, things changed. Antisemitism became normalised in the UK. Jewish hatred escalated disproportionately. For the first time, British Jews felt unsafe. From that date onwards, the hatred intensified, the fear grew to a point where, today, Jewish people are looking to move abroad to a safer country. Forced to do this as a result of the UK turning into an "Islamic State".
Striking parallels to Nazi Germany in the 1930's frighten every single Jew, those old enough to know about the Holocaust. Jihadis are the new Nazis and they have made their intentions crystal clear, to murder every single Jewish person living.
Whern Jewish peole are forced out of a country, society has failed them.

Sorry, the typos in the last line of my post are mine - not the writer's.

Actually there are a lot of comments niquab, hijab and burka. Women wearing these have been told to remove them.

love0c

To keep Jews safe in our country Labour must stop pandering to their core voters! The way Labour has pandered to them since the GE is what has escalated the violence and hatred towards the Jews.

That’s utter rubbish!

Rosie51

The Jewish line in my line of the family tree died out when a male married a non Jewish female as it descends through the female line. Other lines have remained intact.

I think the suggestion that Jews should stop in the words of that misguided policeman at one of the early marches "being visibly Jewish" is appalling. Just another aspect of how easy it is to be antisemitic in broad daylight. It would never be suggested for any other group.

Well I agree with most of your comments, bar the final sentence, it was awful for any Jew to be told to dress less visibly, we have a large community of Jews literally in our street and others close by. I really enjoy seeing them walking around in their orthodox traditional dress and would be very sad if they felt they couldn’t wear them.

However I am aware of other cohorts being advised to attempt to hide their faith and history by dressing “more normally”.

No one should be told to disguise themselves to feel safe in the country in which they reside, which for many is the country of their birth.

Btw, for me, I’ve seen a rise in general abuse towards both the Jewish and the Muslim community, there are many if both in our area. I noticed it rising when the EU referendum was first discussed and campaigning was high, ironically as Brexit didn’t affect either of the cohorts I mentioned.

I think there has been a rise in far right open behaviour and real hostility towards any groups these people appear to consider shouldn’t be living here.

It's not just the far right, look how some of the Greens have exposed themselves, not even thinly disguised just blatant anti semetism.

I agree they far right behaviour of the the progressives, the green party and those on the marches has stoked this situation.

Aveline

Actually there are a lot of comments niquab, hijab and burka. Women wearing these have been told to remove them.

When it’s a securityissue, I can understand being asked to temporarily remove face coverings, i.e. passport control, to establish identity in an exam or other circumstances.

Totally different.

It is also a womans rights issue.