Your statement illuminates the ignorance of most non-Jews toward the complexity of being Jewish, loving Israel, enduring decades and centuries of atrocities, understanding the realities of Middle East politics and yet being horribly uncomfortable with the Netanyahu government and its objectives. The vast majority of American Jews would prefer that this would end now, with the return of the hostages and a two state solution. But Hamas and Iran are as complicit in this as is Israel. No, Jewish religious institutions are not complicit in a genocide. Labeling this genocide is still controversial. But standing with Israel and supporting its right to exist, and the return of the hostages is not going to cease. And for all of this, as long as people think there is something wrong with our whole religion, I don’t know that it’s easy to be a Jewish kid in a Catholic school. |
I agree with everything you wrote except that I actually think a Jewish kid is less likely to encounter antisemitism at a Catholic school vs public or progressive privates. Lots of Catholics admire Judaism (albeit I’m sure in a way that is condescending) especially the academic types. My dad was super Catholic and preferred Jews over Protestants lol. The real issue is that there will obviously be overt religious practice at the school. But from what I understand, by high school, it is pretty cabined and nobody will bat an eye if you don’t go to mass. |
(and I should add - I would trust a Catholic school to have a much better discussion of Israel and Gaza than many other schools, because it would be rooted in actual philosophical Catholic concepts like “just war.”) |
| There were a lot of similarities between the Jewish and Italian families. My grandmother’s (a strong Catholic) best friend was Jewish and they would often joke about this. |
— Jewish mom here. This is well said. |
Calling it a genocide is only “controversial” in Israel, the US and the UK. They have a vested interest in denying it. The majority of the rest of the world (including worldwide organizations and even courts) have spoken and called it for what it is. |
It IS a difficult moment for Jewish students, but not only Jewish students, it’s actually a difficult “moment” for all Jewish people. At our Catholic school the headmaster justifies doing nothing by falling back on “Jews are the most hated group of people in the world right now.” Another family, no longer at the school, said that when presented with examples of antisemitism in the school the headmaster either denied it is was happening or said there was nothing he could do “it’s just boys being boys.” Prior to 10/7 it was not too much of an issue. There was always an undercurrent from some students against Jews, I guess now it is less hidden or less subtle because people have become emboldened to show hate and antisemitism openly, and can do so without fear. This strand is so interesting. Perhaps consider how this entire discussion reads if different ethnic groups are substituted for the words “Jewish” or “Jew” in this conversation. Hate is hate. It would be a better world if people everywhere could learn to be more tolerant and accepting of differences. |
Very disturbed. Frightening. |
It’s not even controversial to call it a genocide in US or UK anymore - for the general public. The tides have turned after watching 19 months of starvation, annihilation and extreme cruelty. |
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The tides have turned and in reality I’ve found most day to day people don’t care.
After years and years of Palestinians showing they can’t develop their own country and Live in peace, most folks in the course of daily life figure let Israel flatten Gaza and eradicate the issue. And while many people might not expresses that openly. Most Jews are actually just fine with that. The failing of Israel was that they didn’t give them 48 hours to return the hostages and then actually destroy the entire Gaza area. They let it drag on too long instead of just showing the Middle East, if you ever screw with us again we will remove your country (on in this case Gaza) from existence. Full stop. |
This is really not at all how most people feel and if a kid of any religion came to our school with these views they would not be received warmly. |
Do you really believe that? Because if you do, that’s part of the issue. |
You’ve got it backwards. MAGA loves Israel, but the Dems support Hamas and the other terrorists who want to kill them. It certainly wasn’t MAGA who killed those two innocent young people earlier this week. Sadly, left leaning Ivy feeders like NCS are schools you need to avoid if you are openly Jewish. |
I find it hard to believe that the head of a Catholic school (or any school) would say Jews are the most hated group in the world. It just doesn’t sound like something an educator would say. Can you share more detail and context, perhaps the name of the school? |
I don’t believe that statement, the headmaster said that and it was rather alarming that he said it and believed it. |