Thread by @VictoriaGoldma2

Over the weekend, I read #jewsdontcount by David Baddiel. I read the whole book in one sitting late one evening - from beginning to end (it’s 123 pages) - and then read it again. If you haven’t bought it, buy it and read it.

1/14

I originally wrote this as a post on my own personal Facebook account. I wasn’t going to tweet it. But the comments & support on there prompted me to change my mind. So here it is (in a shorter form)... *loses her 6K followers*

2/14

As a proud Jew, I believe that - as David Baddiel says in his book - while Jews are not viewed as part of the BAME community, we should be. It’s so difficult to explain what it’s like to be a British Jew when people don’t view us as an ethnic minority group.
3/14

When being Jewish means we fear for our safety so remain vigilant at all times. When we need to have security outside synagogues, Jewish schools & other venues, & Jewish events, to keep us safe. When people don’t ‘see’ the #antisemitism in the streets, media, politics.
4/14

When Jewish teenagers decide which university to go to based on how many Jewish students are there - ‘safety in the numbers’. When people don’t think they’ve met any Jews because although they think all Jews are white, they also think ‘Jews look & act different, don’t they?’
5/14

When people think it’s okay to write & publish that someone looks Jewish or give Jewish characters common (offensive) Jewish stereotypes - imagine the uproar if people wrote similar about another ethnic group. Jews aren’t allowed to decide if something’s offensive to them.
6/14

When people’s eyes skim over headlines about Jews being persecuted/injured simply because they’re Jewish (no, Jews didn’t do anything wrong - it’s #antisemitism) yet these people shout for all it’s worth about the persecution, shooting or maiming of other minority groups.
7/14

When Jews make up less than 0.5% of the UK population - a very small minority - yet people still (ridiculously) believe Jews control the British media, politics, and more... (despite so many media outlets being SO anti-Semitic!).
8/14

When people say being Jewish is just about religion, yet it’s proven to be in our DNA. The Nazis murdered us because our heritage runs through the blood in our veins as with any other ethnic minority - it didn’t matter to them whether we actively practised Judaism or not.
9/14

When I’m nervous to put this post as a thread on Twitter, because of possible repercussions & trolling - even though I don’t hide my Jewish identity from my 6K followers (and even if only around five of them interact with me on a regular basis 😂).
10/14

I can’t tell people what to read, think or believe. But on reading #jewsdontcount (please do!) I realise I have to get The Redeemer, my Jewish-themed crime novel, out into the world. Whatever it takes. Agents have said no, but ‘the quality of my writing is undeniable’.
11/14

The Redeemer features themes of Jewish identity, culture, heritage and antisemitism - as well as murder! At a time when the publishing industry is on a public drive for authentic ‘own voices’ novels featuring, and written by, authors from minority and disadvantaged groups.
12/14

I can’t say whether The Redeemer is a good book or not - or whether I’m a good writer or not. Only others can. But even if just 20* people (other than family & friends) buy & read The Redeemer, this will be better than none at all.
Because Jews. DO. Count.
*Hopefully more
13/14

*Jews Don’t Count is currently £2.99 on Kindle (also available in a hardback) - the paperback will be published on 3rd Feb 2022. And, no, I don’t know @Baddiel and don’t get commission.

The Redeemer, my Jewish-themed crime novel, will be published, somehow, this year. 😀

14/14