Have you ever been scared to tell people you're Jewish?

Question

I don't broadcast it, but if someone asks I tell them.

Answer 1

Right after I graduated nursing school, obtained my liscense and became a Registered Nurse, I went to work on a pediatrics unit at a local hospital. Starting I.V. medications on babies and toddlers can sometimes be as traumatic on the parent as it appears to be for the child. I can understand that, they're already worried for their sick baby, who is often quite distressed, and here is this strange woman coming to stick a needle in that sweet little arm of their BABY!

One of the first children I so encountered working the night shift was a little dehydrated boy about 18 months old. His mother was quite young, distressed and nervous. I came in the room to get the baby to take him to a small private room we used for such purpose because it had a table where we could have one nurse hold the baby while Mom soothed him and the other nurse quickly inserted the IV and got it running. As soon as I stuck the needle in that little sweet hand he let out a blood curdling scream and in bursts Dad who just arrived at the hospital, with shaved head, Nazi SS tattoos and a swastika tattoo on his hand and murder in his eyes. At that exact moment I was still oblivious to this. I was busy taping the tubing so the baby wouldn't pull it out, I calmly said to him..I certainly didn't like to make him scream but he will be getting the fluids he needs now and that will be the best help for him. And I handed him to Mom who cuddled him. I then looked up to see his Dad glaring at me and looking at my name tag. I had one of those little tack pins in my badge..like many other nurses who put scatter pins on our name tags..and my co workers all had crosses...my Mom gave me a Star of David. He would not take his eye off my Star of David. That is the only time I've ever been afraid. He wouldn't say a word to me. He just stared back at my badge every few minutes even once we got into the room. I just kept the communication going with Mom who had already begun to place her trust in me. I didn't know how to deal with him so I really did nothing.

I even had security walk me to my car that night. He glared at me every chance he got while his baby was there. Never said a word, just glared.

It intimidated me enough that for a couple of years I did not again wear any star of david anywhere on me to work. Then one day I decided..to hell with them. I am who I am. I've worn a Star of David or Chai or mezuzzah on a chain my whole life at different times and whenever I felt like it and I'm not going to stop because bigots exist.

I don't go around telling people I'm Jewish and there were times that I'd known someone for a long time before they discovered I was Jewish. It just never came up.

Shalom :)

EDIT: I left out what actually disturbed me more than the temporary fear that this neo-nazi may do something weird..
It made me sick to think to know they would be raising that beautiful little boy to hate like they do.

Bigotry is taught.

Answer 2

Not scared, but wary, on occasion, because in the past I've had strange reactions!

Once someone actually accused me of lying! I pointed out that saying one is Jewish is hardly something a person will fib about!

I am extremely proud of my Jewish heritage, and of Israel; I never 'declare' my religion but I find if you get friendly with someone, either at work or socially, the topic of religion will inevitably arise. I sometimes feel sympathetic to non Jews, though, because sometimes they have good intentions but they genuinely don't know how to respond when they find out one is Jewish :)

Answer 3

No. I don't broadcast it as such but I make sure that my workmates know, mainly so there's little problem taking off Jewish holidays.

Answer 4

No I am PROUD. If someone doesn't know and says something anti-Semetic I feel proud to defend my people and make him/her realize his/her racism by pointing out that I am Jewish.

Answer 5

I live in israel so no.

bbuuut, if i were to live in lets say the usa, then still no.
but if i were to live in somewhere like the european union then still no. i am not going to be scared to tell people im jewish anywhere.

Answer 6

There is a similar thought in a commentary on this week's Torah reading.

For I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and here also (in Egypt) I did nothing to deserve being thrown into prison. (Genesis 40:15)

The Chassidic Rebbe, Rav Meir Yechiel of Ostrov, comments upon these poignant words of Joseph to Pharaoh's cupbearer. One who admits to coming from Israel merits to be buried there. One who does not admit his origins does not merit to be buried in Israel.

This is the difference between Moses and Joseph. Moses, who was identified as an Egyptian by the daughters of Yitro does not make it to Israel. Joseph, who clearly identifies himself as a Jew coming from the land of Israel, is brought to his final resting place in Shechem.

But this is puzzling, says the Rebbe of Ostrov. Joseph was born in Israel, but Moses really was born in Egypt. Moses truly was an Egyptian. "From this we learn", says the Rebbe of Ostrov, "that from the time the Land of Israel was promised to Abraham, every Jew must see himself as a citizen of Israel."


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Answer 7

Okay, I must admit that I've been scared ONLY ONCE! But other than that, I'm very proud.

Answer 8

no, I have not been scared; but certain problems followed after--I still say what I am

Answer 9

Their is one incident that sticks out in my mind...

lucky for me his intentions were not violent.

Answer 10

only one time in india... we been in a dark age muslim village..for the night.... and they start to talk with us and we told them we euro' couse they started to talk about israel and how the zionist bla bla bla.....it's funny... couse they din't knew about allot of what going on in the world but they knew allot on israel...