Although I have traveled extensively around the world for professional conferences and vacations, I have never encountered antisemitism and hatred as blatant, extreme, and frightening as I did this week in London.
I was hanging out with friends at a local bar, and I introduced myself as Tomer from Israel. Our conversations continued, and everything seemed great, until one of the people in the group who didn’t know me left without a word and returned a few minutes later. When he returned, he was very agitated and aggressively addressed me, “You work for the Israeli army. Is that true?” I advised him that I was confused as to his question; however, he was persistent and insisted on an answer. He then asked, “You are a baby killer, is that true?” I replied no. His eyes were filled with hatred, and his demeanor was threatening. However, I was determined to remain outwardly calm and composed – although I was shocked.
He stormed out of the bar, slamming the door violently. It was clear that he hated Israelis and intended to demonstrate his ignorance. I decided to step outside for some fresh air, as I needed a few minutes to process such direct, intense hatred. I have been fighting antisemitism for eight years now and have expressed my opinion countless times to strangers and at social gatherings where nobody knew me. Even with years of experience, I was naive to think this would never happen to me. When the levels of hatred against Israelis and Jews are more extreme than ever, it is only a matter of time before it reaches all of us.
Returning moments later, I advised my friends that I was shaken and was heading home. One of my friends approached me and advised that the extremist continued to push his hatred while I was outside the bar. While I was happy to hear that my friends had told this person he was inappropriate and that he had left, I was also frustrated that I could not address him. I wanted to explain to him how ignorant, antisemitic, and extreme he was, and how this behavior won’t lead us to a peaceful solution.
In retrospect, I wished that I had addressed him, that I had called out his antisemitic and antizionist behavior. The truth is I was afraid; for the first time, being in a British pub did not feel safe. I was afraid that any response other than a direct answer to his foolish question would lead him to act physically violent as well.
I choose to share this story to show that occasionally we meet crazy, extreme, antisemitic people whose minds have been brainwashed by social media. But the majority, as hard as it is to believe, are still not like that. The majority, even if they disagree with our views, are willing to talk, debate, and converse in a respectful and sensible manner. This incident only encourages me to continue fighting all the hatred and lies spread against us on social media, since that is where young people draw their hatred against Israel and Israelis.
Tomer Aldubi, Founder and Executive Director at FOA.