Ugh. My kid was identified as one of the Jews for kids to interview

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m afraid OP is a troll. Jews can travel to Arab countries. Jews can work in most Arab countries. We can’t go to Mecca but I’m not sure non Muslims can, period. I’ve been to multiple Arab countries and lived in one. It is best to not get your passport stamped if you go to Israel, but otherwise I am free to travel.
There are restrictions on Israelis but that’s for nationality (which yes, in this case happens to generally overlap with religion).

The Israel stamp story is a myth. https://andreasmoser.blog/2012/08/23/israeli-passport-stamp/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m afraid OP is a troll. Jews can travel to Arab countries. Jews can work in most Arab countries. We can’t go to Mecca but I’m not sure non Muslims can, period. I’ve been to multiple Arab countries and lived in one. It is best to not get your passport stamped if you go to Israel, but otherwise I am free to travel.
There are restrictions on Israelis but that’s for nationality (which yes, in this case happens to generally overlap with religion).

The Israel stamp story is a myth. https://andreasmoser.blog/2012/08/23/israeli-passport-stamp/

No, not exactly. I routinely travel in GCC countries, and have a separate passport for Israel. It's also best not to have India and Pakistan on one passport--the India visas are in the Israel passport, Pakistan and GCC are together.

While you can get into Israel with GCC countries on your passport, you can't always get into the GCC countries with Israeli stamps. And it can be painful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m afraid OP is a troll. Jews can travel to Arab countries. Jews can work in most Arab countries. We can’t go to Mecca but I’m not sure non Muslims can, period. I’ve been to multiple Arab countries and lived in one. It is best to not get your passport stamped if you go to Israel, but otherwise I am free to travel.
There are restrictions on Israelis but that’s for nationality (which yes, in this case happens to generally overlap with religion).

Do you have Israel on you passport? If so, can you still travel there without a diplomatic passport?

Could you practice your faith there? Were you open about your religion?

Dude, I’m American. No, I dont have an Israeli passport. And American passports don’t identify religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:in 2nd grade my son's class did something where it became known what you celebrate--xmas, Hanukah, kwanza or eid. I thought is was weird. and my child got sad as he was the only one celebrating Hanukah. they found a Jewish teacher in the school who talked to him and wrote him a letter, so he would not feel so alone. We moved a year later, to an area with a few more jewish families. same reason my parents moved us in the 1970s, from PG to Montgomery. No one wants to feel alone or isolated, especially as a young child.

But wow what a nice teacher for talking to your kid and cleaning up a very awkward situation someone else created.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Didn't mean to open a can of worms with my misunderstanding of when Jews are not allowed to travel to other countries. I still am confused since some posts contradict others. Regardless, I all about those signs that say something like, "No matter where you are from of what you believe you are welcome here." That is the message I think should be the message to all the kids. I think it's great to teach about different religions, beliefs and customs and you can tell the kids to feel free to chime in. That's different to me then doing interviews about their faiths, where the kids may not feel comfortable declining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Didn't mean to open a can of worms with my misunderstanding of when Jews are not allowed to travel to other countries. I still am confused since some posts contradict others. Regardless, I all about those signs that say something like, "No matter where you are from of what you believe you are welcome here." That is the message I think should be the message to all the kids. I think it's great to teach about different religions, beliefs and customs and you can tell the kids to feel free to chime in. That's different to me then doing interviews about their faiths, where the kids may not feel comfortable declining.

You are allowed to travel, but it may not be a wise choice. You are seriously overthinking this. Maybe you should move your kid to a Jewish school. They are just sharing culture and customs.

[Anonymous]

You are way overthinking this. You can travel where you want, but it may not be a good or safe choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Didn't mean to open a can of worms with my misunderstanding of when Jews are not allowed to travel to other countries. I still am confused since some posts contradict others. Regardless, I all about those signs that say something like, "No matter where you are from of what you believe you are welcome here." That is the message I think should be the message to all the kids. I think it's great to teach about different religions, beliefs and customs and you can tell the kids to feel free to chime in. That's different to me then doing interviews about their faiths, where the kids may not feel comfortable declining.

Have you talked to the teacher to discuss your feelings about this situation?

Also, is this a public school?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Public school. I am sharing my discomfort anonymously to get varying viewpoints and to challenge my own beliefs about it or decide if I feel like my concerns are valid. No, I haven't spoken to the teacher. I understand the purpose of the assignment. I don't believe in jumping in calling the teacher every time she does something that i might not feel comfortable with unless it is major. I just wanted to get other views on it and bounce my thoughts around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Didn't mean to open a can of worms with my misunderstanding of when Jews are not allowed to travel to other countries. I still am confused since some posts contradict others. Regardless, I all about those signs that say something like, "No matter where you are from of what you believe you are welcome here." That is the message I think should be the message to all the kids. I think it's great to teach about different religions, beliefs and customs and you can tell the kids to feel free to chime in. That's different to me then doing interviews about their faiths, where the kids may not feel comfortable declining.

You are allowed to travel, but it may not be a wise choice. You are seriously overthinking this. Maybe you should move your kid to a Jewish school. They are just sharing culture and customs.

OP here. I have zero interest in a Jewish school because we want out child growing up with as much diversity as possible. My issue was with the approach, not with exposing my child to other cultures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m afraid OP is a troll. Jews can travel to Arab countries. Jews can work in most Arab countries. We can’t go to Mecca but I’m not sure non Muslims can, period. I’ve been to multiple Arab countries and lived in one. It is best to not get your passport stamped if you go to Israel, but otherwise I am free to travel.
There are restrictions on Israelis but that’s for nationality (which yes, in this case happens to generally overlap with religion).

The Israel stamp story is a myth. https://andreasmoser.blog/2012/08/23/israeli-passport-stamp/

Did you actually read the post? It says that some Arab countries will not allow you in if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport.

This has been true for many years. I lived in Iran back in the 70s and even then, which was a relatively modern time compared to now, you couldn't have an Israeli stamp. Oddly, you could be Jewish, and there was a reasonably large Iranian Jewish population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Public school. I am sharing my discomfort anonymously to get varying viewpoints and to challenge my own beliefs about it or decide if I feel like my concerns are valid. No, I haven't spoken to the teacher. I understand the purpose of the assignment. I don't believe in jumping in calling the teacher every time she does something that i might not feel comfortable with unless it is major. I just wanted to get other views on it and bounce my thoughts around.

I think that the teacher should have run it by you, and any other parents, first. Kids shouldn't feel like they need to be the ambassador for their faith or tradition, particularly not when they come from a historically marginalized group. It puts kids on the spot, and contributes to "othering" in which some kids are set apart from others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Public school. I am sharing my discomfort anonymously to get varying viewpoints and to challenge my own beliefs about it or decide if I feel like my concerns are valid. No, I haven't spoken to the teacher. I understand the purpose of the assignment. I don't believe in jumping in calling the teacher every time she does something that i might not feel comfortable with unless it is major. I just wanted to get other views on it and bounce my thoughts around.

I would say that it is worth a conversation with the teacher about this, just so s/he understands your point of view. It can be a good learning situation for the teacher, and you and the teacher together may be able to come up with some better ways of reaching the goal of allowing the kids to learn about others, to be accepting, and to be kind to all.

This is not calling the teacher about some minor thing. It is obviously bothering you, and you may actually find that your concerns are relieved after speaking with the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:in 2nd grade my son's class did something where it became known what you celebrate--xmas, Hanukah, kwanza or eid. I thought is was weird. and my child got sad as he was the only one celebrating Hanukah. they found a Jewish teacher in the school who talked to him and wrote him a letter, so he would not feel so alone. We moved a year later, to an area with a few more jewish families. same reason my parents moved us in the 1970s, from PG to Montgomery. No one wants to feel alone or isolated, especially as a young child.

My kids experience something similar just being the only ones to raise their hands to say they celebrate Hanukkah when asked. So I can imagine I would feel similar to OP. I'm sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:in 2nd grade my son's class did something where it became known what you celebrate--xmas, Hanukah, kwanza or eid. I thought is was weird. and my child got sad as he was the only one celebrating Hanukah. they found a Jewish teacher in the school who talked to him and wrote him a letter, so he would not feel so alone. We moved a year later, to an area with a few more jewish families. same reason my parents moved us in the 1970s, from PG to Montgomery. No one wants to feel alone or isolated, especially as a young child.

My kids experience something similar just being the only ones to raise their hands to say they celebrate Hanukkah when asked. So I can imagine I would feel similar to OP. I'm sorry.

Oh by the way I mean to say this is the primary reason we join a synagogue, do religious school, Jewish summer camp etc - so they know other Jewish kids.