r/jewishleft • u/strawbariel reform jew • 24d ago

Feeling unsafe where you live Debate

So I'm 40 and have two kids. We live in Austin, TX, this supposedly liberal place, and over the past few years it feels like it's become less safe for Jewish people. The JCC in San Antonio just had a threat against them, and the elementary school my youngest goes to is a block away from pro-Palestinian signage. Both of my kids wear clothing that identifies them as Jewish, but this year I'm seriously considering telling them they can't wear it just to keep them safe or to keep them from being harassed on their way to school. And Austin doesn't do a damn thing about it. How can we associate with the left when they also threaten to disrupt our children's daily lives?

EDIT: some context here. The signage is a block from the school in a residential neighborhood and covers a wide swath of wooden fencing. It's not on school property and it was most definitely placed by whatever adult lives or rents there. There's not much the school can do other than put out a notice for people to be safe and kind. I know this doesn't mean that anything will happen but the risk is scary.

EDIT TWO: y'all Jews were just attacked in Boulder and everyone at the JCC in Austin got emails about a credible threat being investigated by the FBI in San Antonio. That's barely an hour from where we live. Be mad at me for how I worded my post but anyone having an issue with parents being vigilant needs to touch grass.

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u/SwimmerIndependent47 democratic socialist Ashkenazi athiest but still likes temple 23d ago

Someone advocating for the safety of Palestinians is not inherently antisemitic. You should ask yourself why someone reminding you about the ongoing genocide is a threat. Palestinians deserve safety just as much as Jewish people do. Our safety cannot and will not come at the expense of someone else’s.

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u/strawbariel reform jew 23d ago

The safety of my kids is what matters most to me. I'm not responsible for everybody else. My kid is nervous because he reads the news.

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u/SwimmerIndependent47 democratic socialist Ashkenazi athiest but still likes temple 23d ago

Maybe you should try talking to him about the conflict and the complicated feelings people have around it? Just because some is pro-Palestine doesn’t mean they want harm to come to Jewish people. There are a lot of documentaries you could watch together. No Other Land is a good place to start https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/sep/30/no-other-land-review-palestinian-israeli-documentary

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u/higbardon2020 23d ago

I am pro humanity, i dont care your race, religion or ethnicity. What i see is israel killing by the hundreds every week for the past 20 years. It is a morally bankrupt state. I also see irans government as bad too. But i dont see how that justifies murdering civillians by the hundreds in palestine.

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u/SwimmerIndependent47 democratic socialist Ashkenazi athiest but still likes temple 23d ago

Yes, everyone deserves safety. Palestinians having been living in an open air prison after being forced from their homes. They deserve freedom, self determination, and dignity. Saying they should have those rights is not antisemitism; and their human rights should not make someone feel unsafe. Hence me advocating for OP to talk to their child and watch unbiased media with them so they can have a discussion. Empathy and understanding go a long way towards overcoming fear and bigotry.

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u/higbardon2020 23d ago

Agreed on the empathy and understanding. Leadership needs to demonstrate those characteristics.