My husband and very young children lived in Peterborough, UK from 1992-93. We were fortunate to live in a city with a very small Jewish community, which warmly welcomed us. Kudos to Irene for skillfully describing her experience and the unpleasant challenges her school created, lacking sensitivity to her identity. The Peterborough community had few school aged children. Not sure if these children had the same experience.
A branch of my mother’s family left Poland for Sheffield, UK, before WW2. The children of this family attended a boarding school. I visited their home in Dec1975 and noticed a large, beautifully decorated seasonal tree in the entry hall. I was asked if my parents had a similar tree; I responded no.
I share these anecdotes to expand upon Irene’s recent experiences.
Our Peterborough neighbors knew we are Jewish and warmly welcomed us. Maybe the community is the factor to consider to explain this blatant lack of awareness of a diverse world.
My recollection of King Charles III’s coronation and his visit to the Jewish community in a London neighborhood both reveal increasing acknowledgement of Jews as members of the UK. As we see elsewhere in the world, such acknowledgement and acceptance may not trickle through all members of the community or society.
Hoping our internet voices provoke this trickle. Thank you!
My husband and very young children lived in Peterborough, UK from 1992-93. We were fortunate to live in a city with a very small Jewish community, which warmly welcomed us. Kudos to Irene for skillfully describing her experience and the unpleasant challenges her school created, lacking sensitivity to her identity. The Peterborough community had few school aged children. Not sure if these children had the same experience.
A branch of my mother’s family left Poland for Sheffield, UK, before WW2. The children of this family attended a boarding school. I visited their home in Dec1975 and noticed a large, beautifully decorated seasonal tree in the entry hall. I was asked if my parents had a similar tree; I responded no.
I share these anecdotes to expand upon Irene’s recent experiences.
Our Peterborough neighbors knew we are Jewish and warmly welcomed us. Maybe the community is the factor to consider to explain this blatant lack of awareness of a diverse world.
My recollection of King Charles III’s coronation and his visit to the Jewish community in a London neighborhood both reveal increasing acknowledgement of Jews as members of the UK. As we see elsewhere in the world, such acknowledgement and acceptance may not trickle through all members of the community or society.
Hoping our internet voices provoke this trickle. Thank you!