UK Teacher Blames Jews for Oct. 7 Massacre, Forcing Boy, 9, to Leave School
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
A nine-year-old Jewish boy in North London has left his state primary school after a teacher blamed Jews for the October 7 Hamas attacks. The school administration reportedly refused to provide antisemitism training for staff, citing a reluctance to engage in politics. This incident follows previous antisemitic experiences the child had at the same school. The family has since enrolled him in a Jewish school, where he has shown improvement. Jewish organizations in the UK have condemned the event and called for action against antisemitism in educational institutions.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A nine-year-old Jewish boy left his North London school after a teacher blamed Jews for the October 7 Hamas massacre.
- The school administration refused to provide antisemitism training, stating staff could not be forced into political engagement.
- The boy had previously faced antisemitic incidents at the school, including anti-Israel chants.
- The family has enrolled the child in a Jewish school, reporting an improvement in his emotional state.
- The boy's father compared the situation to his family's experience with antisemitism under the Vichy regime.
- UK Jewish organizations condemned the incident and called for urgent action against antisemitism in schools.
A nine-year-old Jewish boy in North London was forced to leave his state primary school after his teacher told him that Jews were responsible for the Hamas massacre on October 7, according to the Jewish Chronicle. The boy's family approached the school administration demanding antisemitism training for staff, but were told that staff could not be forced to engage in politics. The incident occurred earlier this year when the boy's father discussed the Nova festival massacre with his son. The next day, the child shared details of this conversation with his teacher, who responded, "Actually, the opposite is true." The father interpreted this to mean the teacher was suggesting Jews attacked Palestinians and that Hamas's actions were justified as acts of "freedom fighters." Following the incident, the father met with the deputy headteacher, who took notes and promised to address the issue with the teacher. However, the school administration failed to follow up, despite repeated attempts by the father to get an update. The father suggested the teacher visit the Nova exhibition in London to understand the events of October 7, but was again told that staff could not be compelled to engage in political matters. He countered that the event was a historical atrocity, not politics. The father eventually approached the headteacher on the last day of the school year but was dismissed, with the headteacher claiming no involvement and deferring to the deputy. The Jewish Chronicle reported this was not the first antisemitic incident the child experienced at the school; the previous year, a classmate had hurled curses at him for praising an Israeli singer, and others chanted "Free Palestine." The family, feeling despair, ultimately withdrew the child from the school. He has since enrolled in a Jewish school, where his well-being has improved. The father, who is French-born, drew a parallel to his own family's history, stating his grandfather removed his mother from school in 1940 due to antisemitism under the Vichy regime, expressing dismay at experiencing similar antisemitism in England in 2026. Jewish organizations in the UK condemned the incident. A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews highlighted the need for the findings of Sir David Bell's review into antisemitism in schools to be published. The Community Security Trust (CST) stated that schools should be safe spaces and expressed deep concern over hostility towards Jewish students, urging families to report antisemitic behavior to schools, police, and the CST.
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