Fellow Jews, anti-Semitism is rising in Europe do you think that it might get just as bad here in the US?

Question

A young Jewish woman was brutalized by two Muslim Arabs in France Thursday.

Audrey Brachelle, 22, was attacked in the French city of Marseilles Thursday evening. The attack began as she walked back from her job as an accountant at a textile factory toward the metro station in the La Rose neighborhood of the city, which is home to many Jews.

Two Arab men followed her and attempted to steal her cell phone. After they grabbed it, the attackers noticed the Jewish ornament on the woman’s necklace, at which point she says they realized she was Jewish and began focusing on brutalizing her rather than stealing her phone.

The men then punched her in the face, sliced her dress with a knife and carved at least one Nazi swastika into her chest. They also cut off a clump of her hair.

Despite the swastikas and epithets expressed by the attackers, the French government is hesitating to admit that the attack was an anti-Jewish one.

Also, in Belgiam, UK, Poland, and Russian Jewish cemetaries are being vandalized.
A rabbi was stabbed to death in Russia three months ago as he was exiting synagogue.

Are there any signs that it can happen here?

Belgium not Belgiam

For those accuse me of hysteria look at these stats:
In 2006, 935 incidents were reported to the League for Human Rights, constituting an overall increase of 12.8% from the previous year. This sets a new high for Canada. A 5 year view shows that the number of incidents has more than doubled since the 459 incidents reported in the 2002 Audit. With the exception of a small hiatus in 2005, when a slight 3.3% decrease was reported, there has been a relentless upward movement over the past 10 years. A 10-year view shows that incidents have jumped more than four-fold since 1997 when there were 212 cases. Twenty-five years ago when the League released its first Audit, the number of reported incidents was only 63.
The 935 incidents reported across Canada may be classified as follows: 588 cases (62.9%) of harassment were recorded compared to 531 in 2005; 317 cases (33.9%) involved vandalism compared to 273 cases in 2005; and 30 cases (3.2%) involved violence compared to 25 cases in 2005

you can also check out this site which lists all the countries that have experienced anti-Semitism

http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/anti-semitism_global_incidents_2006.asp

Answer 1

Anything can happen in a place where people allow it to happen.

That being said, I believe it is more likely to be able to happen to Jews then to many other groups. Why? because some other minorities have better political machines. If they tried to do that to African Americans, there would be a greap uproar. I'm not saying that shouldn't happen - i think there should be a great uproar anytime ANYONE is injured or hurt - I just don't like the fact that the uproar only seems to happen when it happens to certain people.

As a white male - anyone could beat the snot out of me anytime and no one would care! LOL! :-P

I can say one thing: if I witness anyone being nasty to anyone, I try to speak up or help stop it. I don't care who/what they are.

So I hope and pray that no violence ever occurs. I especially hope and pray violence and hatred against particular groups do not occur - since that sort tends to grow/spread.

Answer 2

Honestly, I think we are pretty well off here. I don't know anyone who does not accept me regardless of being Jewish. The problem is that there are sometimes a lot of misconceptions about the religion, since obviously why would most people bother to understand another religion? Either way, I don't think it will be like that here.

Also, I'd like to point out that the example you gave was done by Arabs, I can kind of understand why that would happen. Most non-Arabs and Arabs alike, though, would not do that.

Of course, there is always the problem that you can count how many times somethng bad happens, but not how many times it doesn't happen, so it is hard to understand the true frequency of these things.

Answer 3

I can't say whether or not it will get as bad here, as I'm not a Jew (i'm a Christian) but I know why it's happening.

Everyone hates Israel because it's the site of two things: one, God's chosen people (Jews/Christians), and 2.) God's return (when He returns). So everyone figures, "Hey, if we can get rid of Israel, we can get rid of God's second coming! And then we'll have free rein in the world for good!" So that explains that.

I'm not anti-Semitic. I don't know enough Jews to be anti-Semitic, and after all, Christ was a Jew, wasn't He?

--Jake

Answer 4

Zec 14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Answer 5

I really dont know what this world is coming to. It is truly sad and frightening that this is going on. Iam not Jewish, Iam a Christian. That poor woman. I will continue to pray for peace in this world. God Bless my friend. Shalom

Answer 6

So the original motive was only theft not anti-Semitism? This one instance doesn't show that anti-Semitism is increasing in Europe. Just watch the film Borat to see evidence of the underlying anti-Semitism in the US that they don't like to admit exists. What you've posted is hysterical propaganda that bears no resemblence to reality.

Answer 7

I am not a Jew, but I have noticed a rise in anti-Semitism. Some of it seems connected with disagreement with Israeli policies, but not all of it.

Answer 8

I think it could happen anywhere if people become complacent about religious tolerance.
The Christian right worries me not just for Jew's but anyone not of their faith.

Answer 9

I'm not a Jew, but yes it will and during the reign of the antichrist it will not be Jews only, but all who will not accept the Antichrist as supreme ruler and take his mark.

Answer 10

YES, IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.
I'M NOT A JEW, BUT YOU SHOULD LEAVE WHEN THE SH*T GOES DOWN!