Submission by Anon:
Hiii fellow sisters. October 7th, like millions of Jews around the world, changed my life. And i have been so disappointed at non-Jews for dismissing how Jews are feeling after the biggest massacre that occurred since last century. Telling us they are "anti-zionists, not antisemites", that we are wrong to be so-called "paranoid" about antisemitism. I have a friend telling me "how can we know you're a Jew ? you look white compared to Arabs, Latinos who has to hide their identities!" Excuse me ? -- I really wanted to share one of the scariest experience regarding antisemitism that happened to me this last month. In a Uber, in FRANCE.
So I had this job interview in the morning at 10, and decided to take a Uber to arrive sooner to this very important interview. Just wanted to know that I was wearing a tiny gold Magen david necklace, but nothing extravagant. The driver didn't noticed first. He took me in, and started immediately interrogating me to know "where I came from". He kept asking "Arab?" I said "No" - "Algerian ?" I said "No." "Italian ? Portuguese ? What ?"
I'm a Moroccan Jew, I have dark hair, brown eyes, and olive skin so perhaps he thought he was legitimate to ask me those questions but he wasn't. He made me uncomfortable. He then started to ask me about my RELIGION. And I was really not okay, I was like my G-d, how is he going to react ? He said "Are you Muslim ? Do you like Quran?" and I said "No, I've never read the Quran" , he told me "You should, it's the truth" I stayed silent. He then told me about his life in Algeria growing up, and how he was proud that Algeria fights the Jews and Israelis. I didn't have a mirror on me but I know I was pale as f*ck and not feeling well for my safety suddenly.
He proceeded to ask me "So.. you're a Christian ?" and I said "No, i'm not." -- He laughed and said "So what, you don't believe in G-d? Hmm ?" And I said "No, I'm Jewish." He became LIVID. And went completely SILENT. We were on the highway, he started to drive so fast and overtook a lot of cars, I thought we were going to have an accident. He braked violently and pulled over to the side of the highway. He got out of the car and I thought "my G-d he is going to k!ll me there?" my whole body could felt the adrenaline rushing and I swear I was ready to fight for my life. He opened the door and told me to get out before he would "break my mouth in half". I got out and he drive away. I wanted to report his profile but he blocked me and I couldn't reach his profile anymore. I was so angry. I ended up abandoned at the side of the highway, took another Uber and arrived 35 minutes late (I didn't get the job because of it). To this day, I'm traumatized : I always make up a fake identity in my head before taking a Uber just in case, lie to strangers about myself because "you never know", think twice or more about taking a Uber even with friends, and think about how this Algerian man got away with it. France is so unsafe for Jews. PERIOD.
Antisemitism is brutal, violent and can happen to any Jew. Any day or every day. Don't gaslight us. Support us. 🤍💙
