“My newly arrived pupils think that jews are dangerous”
“Teachers: We have an obligation to do something about the ignorance”
“This is an opinion piece. It is the writer who stands for the views that are put forward in the text, not Against.”
“the DEBATE. For more than four years of teaching of newly arrived students, mostly from the Middle east, Afghanistan, Yemen, Ethiopia and Somalia, I have noticed a lot of ignorance when it comes to jews, the state of Israel and the Holocaust. “
“This ignorance can lead to fear – and in the worst cases, hatred. Many students have been “brainwashed” in their own countries, that jews are dangerous and to beware of them. “
“Comments like that ”they are terrorists and you have the right to throw stones at them,” and that ”they burn children alive” are some of the voices that has come up in discussions with students and during lectures in school. “
“During a series of lectures, we talked about the nazi genocide, and it turned out that none of our newly arrived pupils knew about the Holocaust and its background, where over six million jews lost their lives. “
“the Issue of jews and Israel is controversial, and we find it difficult to talk about the topic, despite the fact that only 20 000 jews living in Sweden and that they have protection as an american minority. “
“Tolerance, coexistence, justice and love for one’s fellow man is born from knowledge, discussion and analysis on the basis of the right of every person to freedom and to be able to feel safe in their community. Together, we must dispel this darkness and this ignorance can have a terrible impact on the jews living in Sweden and in the rest of Europe – often behind the armor, enforced security, and without even daring to admit their existence, religion or origin. “
“the Figures from the EU’s Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) speak a clear language. In the report, the 16 000 jews were consulted in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the united kingdom. Countries where about 96% of Europe’s jewish population lives. “
“About 90 percent of respondents said that anti-semitism is growing in their home countries, and 73 percent say that it is clearly in the public domain. “
“The types of harassment and anti-semitism that is revealed by the FRA include, for example, the destruction of jewish cemeteries, vandalism of jewish buildings or institutions, and open hostility toward the jews. “
“the Report also notes that Sweden is one of the countries where most believe that anti-semitism has increased. More than eight out of ten respondents in Belgium, France, Germany, Poland and Sweden are of the opinion that anti-semitism is ”a very large” or ”fairly big” problem. “
“We can’t disappoint the jews by inaction and silence. Anti-semitism must be combated, and our responsibility for this must be clearly – through the enlightenment, the knowledge of different authorities and in the school. “
“the Attacks against jews In Malmö and in Gothenburg, which must be condemned clearly and a political consensus on the issue is required. Jewish and muslim congregations need to continue to meet for collaboration. The forces for good must be supported. “
“Over four years of knowledge from my work with newcomers, I am convinced that we must act. ”My” students want to, for example, have all the information they can get about the Holocaust, the jews and Israel in their home language. “
“They want to understand and they want to know so that they can form their own opinion based on knowledge from different sources. It does not work if the knowledge is absent – first in their home countries and now here in Sweden. “
“It required several phone calls and discussions with our students to create an understanding of what is fertile soil for the Holocaust was even possible, and what are the mechanisms that started the process. It is not enough with a single lecture that is fast disappearing from memory. “
“We have an obligation to dare to take on these issues even if it is difficult and can be experienced as controversial and politically ”dangerous”. It is so easy to end up in a discussion about right or wrong as regards Israel’s policies, but the question is about whether people should be able to live side by side in Sweden and respect each other. “
“or Else the dark forces of the voids we leave behind us. Maybe can 2019 be the year when we collectively take action against anti-semitism and its darkness – not just today, on Holocaust remembrance day but all other days during the year. “
“nAnnelie Danling Brash, förstelärare for new arrivals and learning at Nyköping high school, with the help of Jonathan Brash, teachers, grades 4-6”
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