Jews warned not to wear religious symbols in Copenhagen

[Behind the Aegis]

Israeli and Jewish officials in Denmark on Wednesday warned Jews to avoid openly wearing religious symbols and dress when moving about Copenhagen amid rising anti-Israeli sentiment.

"We advise Israelis who come to Denmark and want to go to the synagogue to wait to don their skull caps until they enter the building and not to wear them in the street, irrespective of whether the areas they are visiting are seen as being safe," Israel's ambassador to Denmark, Arthur Avnon, told AFP.

Avnon added that visitors were also advised not to "speak Hebrew loudly" or demonstrably wear Star of David jewellery.

Denmark's national Jewish Religious Community organisation has also advised its members, and those at the private Jewish school in Copenhagen, to exercise caution.

http://www.france24.com/en/20121212-jews-warned-not-wear-religious-symbols-copenhagen

This is also posted in General Discussion: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021967008

[stevenleser]

1. This is what Likudnik policies have done to us. We desperately need Labor to win this next election

We need Shelly Yachimovich to become the next prime minister. If you havent heard her speak, you should.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. I understand the sentiment, but...

...you cannot blame Israel for anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is a social disease brought on by hate of Jews. Conflating Jews and the policies of Israel is dangerous when we do it, and more so when those who hate us do it. Regardless of what happens in Israel, it should never be taken out on Jews.

[stevenleser]

3. The article you cited specifically mentions anger at Israeli policies, not anti-semitism but I

completely understand the danger of conflating the two. In Scandinavia, there is a growing problem with anti-semitism directed at Jews by their growing arab/muslim communities. That isn't necessarily the same thing as what is happening in the article you cited.

What I sensed the last few times I was in Europe was the sentiment turning against Israel to the point that it was against the US after the invasion of Iraq and again, that was specifically policy based anger, not religio/ethno-centrism.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. And that's the problem!

The article is saying Jews are at risk for actions/policies of Israel. THEY AREN'T ISRAELIS, THEY ARE JEWS! THAT is anti-Semitism. So, it is irrelevant if the anger is about Israel, when the actions are against Jews, then it IS anti-Semitism. PERIOD! The attack in Romania was against Israelis, that, Steven, was an attack based on those persons national identity. These attacks are anti-Semitism.

[stevenleser]

5. No, I disagree. Let me make an example that illustrates the point.

Let's say right after the Iraq invasion in 2003, I go to Liberia in Africa. Lets say there are people there that are angry at the US policy with regards to Iraq. They see me, a white person (I'm mixed, but I know from experience, Africans view me as white) speaking English with an American accent and they assume I am American and in favor of the Iraq war and they attack me.

Are they attacking me because I am white? Is it ethnocentrism that is causing the attack?

No, but the whiteness and other indicators are leading them to believe I am a member of a country engaging in policies they abhor.
Edited to add: When I traveled after the invasion of Iraq, I did have to explain I was against the Iraq war to avoid unpleasant reactions to my being American, and that was in France and Italy.

If someone is anti-semitic, they are against Jews because they believe being Jewish is intrinsically bad or evil. That is not what is the case in the article you cite. The 'Jewishness' is leading someone to believe that the person in question is Israeli and the Israeli part is the source of the anger because of specific policies the people have problems with.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. You are completely off the mark.

Your example is one that is not about race, though it could contribute, but it is about your being an American. Now, for an actual relevant example:

I am American. I am not Israeli, nor have I ever been to Israel. I am walking down the street with a Star of David necklace, indicating I am a Jew. Some assholes set upon me because of their hate of the Israeli-Gaza engagement. Is that anti-Semitism? FUCK YES IT IS! I am NOT an Israeli. I am NOT responsible for Israeli policy. I was attacked because I was a Jew!

You are CONFLATING! Stop it right now! Attacking Jews for anything related to Israel is anti-Semitism because the person is being attacked BECAUSE they are a Jew and might be an Israeli or sympathetic to Israel...THAT IS ANTI-SEMITISM because the assumption is based on the person BEING A JEW! If Hamas murdered Jews in a Copenhagen synagogue, that would be an act of anti-semitism. PERIOD! The ONLY thing that might mitigate it is if everyone of them was an Israeli OR if it were a pro-Israel function, but being attacked for the actions of Israel because you are a Jew is anti-Semitism!


Whether you are intending to or not, you are making excuses for anti-Semitic behavior.

[stevenleser]

9. No, I'm not wrong, and you should see my #6 to see who you are accusing of anti-semitism.

I suggest you look at my example again and perhaps it will be more clear if it is a Brit who sounds like they are American in the Liberian example. Now, we have a situation that is completely analogous to you as an American being confused for an Israeli because you are wearing a kipah/yarmulkah.

I'm not excusing anti-semitism, I know the difference between people who excuse anti-semitism based on Israeli policies and what is happening in Denmark based on the article you cited. Its not the same thing. The Danes in question are not saying people are bad because they are Jewish. If that is what is in fact happening, it is not supported by the article.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Yes, you are wrong. I saw your remarks in #6.

I suggest you read more closely, and pay very close attention to what I am about to say.

Now, we have a situation that is completely analogous to you as an American being confused for an Israeli because you are wearing a kipah/yarmulkah.

WRONG! I am NOT being confused for an Israeli, I am being targeted for being a JEW! They (the attackers), like you, are conflating "Jew" with "Israeli," but it doesn't change the fact it is ANTI-SEMITISM. Personally, I don't think you do understand the concept of conflating, because it is exactly what is happening. What you fail to understand is that the attacks on the Israeli embassy were an act against Israel, but JEWS are being told to be cautious because people will attack them because they are Jews, which in the eyes of the attackers represents Israel; it doesn't change the nature of the attack: anti-Semitism.

Maybe this will resonate: If Iran attacks the US, and then a bunch of yahoos burn down a local mosque, that is NOT anti-Iranian sentiment, that is Islamophobia. Anyone who is Muslim will be targeted because of the actions of Iran, regardless of their national origin. Even if the bigots claim it is because of the actions of Iran, they didn't target Iranians, they targeted Muslims.

Again, the Danes are not the ones for whom the concern is expressed. I suggest you read the second to last paragraph again!

[stevenleser]

6. Also, with Denmark in particular, lets remember who we are dealing with

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescue_of_the_Danish_Jews

The rescue of the Danish Jews occurred during Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark during World War II. On October 1, 1943 Nazi leader Adolf Hitler ordered Danish Jews to be arrested and deported. Despite great personal risk, the Danish resistance movement with the assistance of many ordinary Danish citizens took part in a collective effort to evacuate about 8,000 Jews of Denmark by sea to nearby neutral Sweden.

The rescue allowed the vast majority of Denmark's Jewish population to avoid capture by the Nazis and is considered to be one of the largest actions of collective resistance to repression in the countries occupied by Nazi Germany. As a result of the rescue and Danish intercession on behalf of the 5% of Danish Jews who were deported to Theresienstadt transit camp in Bohemia, over 99% of Denmark's Jewish population survived the Holocaust.
-----------------------------------------------

It will take a lot to convince me that there is a significant non-immigrant anti-semitic sentiment in Denmark.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. The ones who are responsible are seemingly immigrants.

I am well aware of the history of the Danes and the Holocaust. It doesn't mean I will allow excuses for anti-Semitism.

[King_David]

11. We are talking about antisemitism in 2012

What the Danes did during the Holocast is more than admirable..Not being able to walk around Copenhagen wearing a Magen Dovid in 2012 is shameful.