Any Jewish people in Thailand noticing local hostilities?

[Cameroni]

1 hour ago, wasabi said:

As an isolated incident it was almost meaningless and I only noticed because of other recent subtle slights and glares. 

 

You know it could just be they ran out of plates and had to use the styrofoam containers. Not everything is anti-semitic persecution.

[NorthernRyland]

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Of Course., all Nations have the right to defend themselves and go to war when attacked by an enemy 

True but the Jewish diaspora is going to get blowback for it. Oct 7 was basically a PR disaster for Jews globally. People are strongly divided on the issue and it gets heated pretty quick. Now the common Jewish expat in Thailand is in the middle and getting paranoid. Not a good place to be in for sure.

[Social Media]

Way off topic video/post removed. This is not about Oct 7th, or 9/11 whacky conspiracey theories.

 

A troll post advocating the end of Israel additionally removed. 

 

Any more blatant antisemtic posts and the poster will also be removed.

[Ebumbu]

Nobody I've met in Thailand can guess my ethnicity by my appearance. And, 90% don't know what a Jew is. They know King Kong though. I have seen N*zi symbols (not Buddhist symbols) worn with ignorance. I ask if they know what it means. The answer is no. I believe them. It's close to the counter-clockwise symbols they've seen. I give them the benefit of the doubt. 

No, has never remotely been an issue. On the other hand, I have no hook nose, nor do I have horns, nor do I have a hunchback. Maybe that helps. Many Americans males get chopped, or they did in my era, so that also doesn't give me away. And, the massage workers really don't care. 

Absolutely no one guesses America when they look at me. I hear Switzerland and Australia. 

[Paul52]

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

How could anyone possibly know you were Jewish, unless you announce it to the world?

Skull cap, star of Israel tattooed in a prominent place, signing Hava Nagila, saying “shalom” to everyone he meets?  Joking aside, you’re right.  Just look like a very wide and diverse mix of people of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean/European origin.

[bobbin]

4 hours ago, Yagoda said:

There are no civilians in Gaza. Release my fellow AMERICAN

Trumpian falsehood.. The Gazans (women and children) being dug-up from underneath tonnes of concrete rubble. are almost ALL civilians..

[wasabi]

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

You know it could just be they ran out of plates and had to use the styrofoam containers. Not everything is anti-semitic persecution.

the Thai employee put my food on a plate but the Arabic owner pulled him aside and when he came back he put it in a styrofoam container. I had eaten there before when the owner was not there and nothing like that happened. He may have wanted me to leave but I sat there and ate it out of the container. 

 

I could see the pile of black plates and the next customer received one. I had not asked for my meal to go.

[Jingthing]

Honestly I haven't really experienced this issue in Thailand IRL (except from hate posts on this forum) except for some funny (what are you?) looks at Arabic and Iranian restaurants. That could be about being western or American anyway. People who deny that many people do look and act ethnically Jewy to varying degrees even without wearing stars or skullcaps are really very clueless and ignorant. Jewish people understand that there is a range for that (like from could be a blonde Aryan Hitler Yugend to Woody Allen/Sarah Silverman).  I'm somewhat in the middle, so ambiguous, so yes can be taken for some kind of "Mediterranean" or Middle Eastern. Hilariously there are many non-Jews that present as very ethnically Jewish. Also many non-Jewish New Yorkers sound as if they're Jewish.  My context for ethnically Jewish is mostly in the American context (so mostly Ashkenazi) so there is even more to this than meets the eye.  

 

OK, I did have one uncomfortable experience with an Iranian restaurant I used to go to fairly often, but again this could have been about being western, but I'm sure being a western Jew would have been a bonus. The restauranteur was always trying to get me to talk about my nationality and I dodged the question repeatedly which of course he noticed. I don't want Iranian cooks to know too much but with buffets there are no worries. To people who say that's paranoid, you're wrong. I got a hostile feeling from that guy.

On another occasion I did say I was American to a young Iranian server AFTER the food was served. I just got a positive vibe from him and it turned out I was right,. But generally don't ask, don't tell can be the sensible way to go.

[scubascuba3]

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Haven't those issues been addressed and the young Israelis been told to behave themselves ?

As for behaving only time will tell

[Jingthing]

10 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

I had nothing against Jews until I saw what they were doing in Gaza.

Then I went deeper and saw that they have been treating the Palestinians terribly for decades. Especially the settlers in the occupied West Bank. 
 

I then I thought that these people, understandably, still carry on about the Holocaust.

I hate nazis also.

But the way they, especially the settlers, treat the Palestinians is no better than the Nazis. It is exceedingly cruel.

 

And with the recent dramas in Pai making things difficult for all foreigners I am really starting to hate them also. The issue that was largely ignored on this forum was that the Israelis had banned Thais and other non Jews from places in Pai, so the Thais were concerned that they were doing similar to the occupied West Bank.

 

I have a few Thai Muslim Facebook friends and they post a lot of the horror on their Facebook feeds, children bleeding out at the destroyed hospitals, others that have lost limbs etc. These kids are not Hamas.

 

The IDF have been caught out with a lot of their lies. I am very dismissive of their “human shields” excuse. While some of the time it might have been reasonable they have over played that hand.

 

I would have treated Jews the same as everyone else two years ago, but now I resent them, I wouldn’t do anything to help them.
If that makes me “anti semetic” so be it. There is no law saying that you have to like Jews, it isn’t because of your race or religion, it is the way you behave. 
I am definitely not alone, Thais know what is going on, it is in the news a lot because of the Thai hostages. 

 

 

Yep you're antisemitic. Enjoy!

Have you thought about treating people as individuals? 

Some good, some bad, like in any group as if any group is a monolith.

Did I mess up a hospital in Pai?

Too intellectually taxing for you?

[wasabi]

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

Duplicate 

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, wasabi said:

 

When the Thai employee came out my food was on the plate with the Arabic owner pulled him outside when the time employee came back my food was in a styrofoam container. I I had eaten there before when the owner wasn't there and nothing like that happened. I had not answered my food to go. I sat there and ate it out at the styrofoam container and they never realized for how she wanted me to leave I don't know.

 

The next customer received their food on a plate 

 

Sheit happens. I believe you. I've gotten bad service in Israeli restaurants sometimes because I wasn't Israeli. Life goes on. 

 

Yeah, I know you're looking for patterns.
I don't think things are bad in Thailand.

Clearly much better than in France, ha ha.

[1duckyboy]

5 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Jews get outsized representations because they work pay for it. Where would the Nobel prizes be without them.

 

Fixed it for you.

[wasabi]

13 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Sheit happens. I believe you. I've gotten bad service in Israeli restaurants sometimes because I wasn't Israeli. Life goes on. 

 

Yeah, I know you're looking for patterns.
I don't think things are bad in Thailand.

Clearly much better than in France, ha ha.

 

Dumb things like this have happened to me periodically throughout my time in Thailand. I typically let it slide. And yes the recent media focus on anti-Semitism has made me more sensitive to it, perhaps overly sensitive, hence my original question.

[Jingthing]

7 minutes ago, wasabi said:

 

Dumb things like this have happened to me periodically throughout my time in Thailand. I typically let it slide. And yes the recent media focus on anti-Semitism has made me more sensitive to it, perhaps overly sensitive, hence my original question.

Yeah well you say you look visibly Jewy so you would notice a change more than people who don't or are ambiguous like me.

[wasabi]

30 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

I had nothing against Jews until I saw what they were doing in Gaza.

Then I went deeper and saw that they have been treating the Palestinians terribly for decades. Especially the settlers in the occupied West Bank. 
 

I then I thought that these people, understandably, still carry on about the Holocaust.

I hate nazis also.

But the way they, especially the settlers, treat the Palestinians is no better than the Nazis. It is exceedingly cruel.

 

And with the recent dramas in Pai making things difficult for all foreigners I am really starting to hate them also. The issue that was largely ignored on this forum was that the Israelis had banned Thais and other non Jews from places in Pai, so the Thais were concerned that they were doing similar to the occupied West Bank.

 

I have a few Thai Muslim Facebook friends and they post a lot of the horror on their Facebook feeds, children bleeding out at the destroyed hospitals, others that have lost limbs etc. These kids are not Hamas.

 

The IDF have been caught out with a lot of their lies. I am very dismissive of their “human shields” excuse. While some of the time it might have been reasonable they have over played that hand.

 

I would have treated Jews the same as everyone else two years ago, but now I resent them, I wouldn’t do anything to help them.
If that makes me “anti semetic” so be it. There is no law saying that you have to like Jews, it isn’t because of your race or religion, it is the way you behave. 
I am definitely not alone, Thais know what is going on, it is in the news a lot because of the Thai hostages. 

 

 

 

Double standards and grievances are coming from both sides. It concerns me too. To be clear I think the Palestinians do have some legitimate grievances and should have their own contiguous piece of land along with freedom of movement within it. There are reasons far more complex than I could explain preventing that but nothing could possibly justify what happened on October 7th with Hamas's gruesome attack.

 

The history and the pain between them and proceeding the creation of Israel is long and twisted with both sides wanting to be justified in their actions and claims. I fully support Jewish people's right to a homeland but I don't unequivocally support or understand every action the IDF takes or the actions many nations take militaristically for that matter. The fog of war gets the best of every country. The bottom line is not every person in any group is all thinking and doing the same thing as part of some grand global conspiracy.

[Rimmer]

A post has been removed, please read the topic title:

 

Any Jewish people in Thailand noticing local hostilities?

 

[Yagoda]

1 hour ago, 1duckyboy said:

 

Fixed it for you.

Even better. They still are your boss

[Yagoda]

2 hours ago, bobbin said:

Trumpian falsehood.. The Gazans (women and children) being dug-up from underneath tonnes of concrete rubble. are almost ALL civilians..

How do you know?

[Grumpy one]

9 hours ago, wasabi said:

I was born Jewish but haven't practiced any religion my entire adult life. Up until recent years it wasn't something I frequently thought about. That said I do look Jewish enough that someone could pick me out of a crowd as "Jewish-Looking" I occasionally eat at Halal food places around Bangkok. I've always enjoyed Mediterranean types of food that are common to Muslim eateries. While I am not ignorant of hostilities between Jews and Muslims, I have friends from all walks of life and give everyone a fair shot if they're friendly to me.

 

Right after the Hamas attack on Israel Oct 7th in 2003. I noticed poorer service in the Halal food restaurants I visit. These are not just in the Nana area, but in places like Terminal 21 Asoke as well. For example, for some strange reason everyone was given a plate but my food was served in a Styrofoam container. I know this is minor and I didn't think much about it. But other small things like delayed service, getting my order wrong, and people staring at me both in these restaurants and on the street by people who are Arabic has increased. My wife and friends have noticed this (happening to me) as well so it is not just paranoia.

 

I was only verbally harassed by an Arab person once in my entire 24 years in Thailand, and that was about 4 years ago, unrelated to recent events. In spite of this I have no hard feelings and this post is not meant to stir up resentment or point fingers. But with distrust and anger at Jewish people on the rise in various parts of the world I wonder how much I should be concerned. I was recently in California and didn't notice any issues there, nor in my recent trip to Vietnam. I have no interest in leaving Thailand but was just curious if any other members of this site have noticed anything like this? 

Being a Red Sea pedestrian has its drawbacks

[rough diamond]

26 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Even better. They still are your boss

As are the little(?) gremlins that seem to populate the space where your brain cell is supposed to be.

[Social Media]

More off topic posts removed from the usual suspect @MalcolmB

[Yagoda]

25 minutes ago, Grumpy one said:

Being a Red Sea pedestrian has its drawbacks

What's that?

[rough diamond]

57 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

What's that?

You might get flooded by answers if you don't part your ways..

[connda]

10 hours ago, wasabi said:

I was born Jewish but haven't practiced any religion my entire adult life. Up until recent years it wasn't something I frequently thought about. That said I do look Jewish enough that someone could pick me out of a crowd as "Jewish-Looking"

I'll be brutally honest.  I've had many "Jewish" friends, and the only way I knew they were "Jewish" is because they informed me so.
Jewish people hail from across ethnic lines.  Most that I've known look very European with a handful looking Eastern Mediterranean.  So honestly, I'd be extremely hard pressed to identify someone as being "Jewish" by looks alone outside of Ultra-othodox Jews who, like Christians Mennonites and Amish, have a very identifiable cultural look.
 

[connda]

21 minutes ago, connda said:

I'll be brutally honest.  I've had many "Jewish" friends, and the only way I knew they were "Jewish" is because they informed me so.
Jewish people hail from across ethnic lines.  Most that I've known look very European with a handful looking Eastern Mediterranean.  So honestly, I'd be extremely hard pressed to identify someone as being "Jewish" by looks alone outside of Ultra-othodox Jews who, like Christians Mennonites and Amish, have a very identifiable cultural look.
 

And the "Jews" I've met here are most likely practicing Buddhists.  My original Theravada Buddhist teacher, Steven Levine, was Jewish as were a whole lot of teachers within the Theravada, Tibetan, and other Buddhist (and Hindu) traditions:  Allen Ginsberg, Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield, Sharon Salzberg, Sylvia Boorstein, Lama Surya Das, Pema Chödrön, and Ram Dass.

[connda]

Hatred is such a vile human condition, regardless of who is the instigator and who is the object.  And yet that is the reality that we live in, sad as it may be. 

[farangkinok]

10 hours ago, Yagoda said:

LOL, dude when I was in high school I had 10 languages in my suburban neighborhood, and all sorts of great food from folks grandmas, abuelas, nonnas and babushkas. I bet you you never ate czernina or pasta fazool as a child.

 

Italian Jews usually marry their own. They dont cross themselves or have Priests officiating with Rabbis

 

You, like most non Americans, are clueless about the USA

I thought that EVERYONE has had pasta fazool (pasta e fagioli) at one time or another. Yummy!

 

[farangkinok]

10 hours ago, wasabi said:

 

I encourage tolerance and humility but I'm not naive and know that some divides are too wide to be bridged.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry, Wasabi. I just couldn't resist. 

 

[Ralf001]

11 hours ago, wasabi said:

 

 

Right after the Hamas attack on Israel Oct 7th in 2003. I noticed poorer service in the Halal food restaurants I visit. These are not just in the Nana area, but in places like Terminal 21 Asoke

 

Terminal 21 Asok opened in 2011..... Right after the Hamas attacks in 2003 !