"A report from the U.S. State Department details "an upsurge" across the world of anti-Semitism -- hostility and discrimination toward Jewish people."

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I had an experience the other night - it effected me more than I thought it would. I went to hear a lecture at my synagogue, given by my Rabbi. I was right on time but when I pulled up, no one was there. I pulled in haphazardly and called my Rabbi who confirmed there was a class. Since I was "crooked", I pulled up and parked in front of the house (our synagogue is in a residential area) across the way and down. I even took a moment to make sure I was not blocking a driveway.

When I came out of the lecture an hour and a half later, I noticed there was a truck with a trailer in front of my van. "Oh, sorry." I said out loud, though I didn't see anyone in the driveway. I just felt bad.

A man came out of his garage... "Yeah, thanks for blocking my driveway so I can't get my truck in." I replied, "Oh my gosh..I'm so sorry. I didn't mean - "
"Yeah, right. I'm tired of dealing with you people."

I got in my car and left.

I've had friends where I was the first Jewish person they met. Some grew up thinking Jews had horns. One gal had to ask her minister if she was supposed to try and convert me (answer was "no"; I was one of the chosen people)... but, really!

Baseless hatred... that's something that most of us grow out of after junior high when we hate our friend one day and hate the other the next day.

I grew up with so much anti-semitism - and now I still have "friends" who want to convert me.
It is discusting in this day and age.

Well on the converting issue, I consider that a generic problem Everybody tries to convert everyone else - so that's just a "different religion" problem. I'm not saying it's good, but I'm saying everyone has to deal with it

On the Jews with horns though, that is just a little too out there for me. How could you think that about *any* other person no matter for what reason??

That's just what they were taught, I suppose. I'll have to look into the historical origin of that one.

Judaism, by the way, is a religion that does not try to convert people. In fact, it can be difficult to convert into Judaism. It is because they want to make sure you are converting from a pure place, that it's something you truly want.

Trust me.. it can be VERY hard to convert. .. I did and took YEARS because it was hard. Was turned away 3 times and had to keep coming back and proving my intent was true.

Now 17 years later, I wouldn't change a thing ;0)

the struggle was well worth it (hit submit too soon)

Oh, I'd love to hear more about your journey. How did you know you were Jewish?
Actually, I believe one has to ask three times before one can convert.

Jase - I would also love to hear about your journey!

And your are right to point that out Lisa, that no Jew tries to convert anyone!

One time that really sticks out in my mind - I was playing with a neighbor when I was five - she told me I am going to hell because I was Jewish. I asked her what hell is since I never heard of hell. When she told me, I started crying. I told my mom and she went over to tell the mother - the lady said she was sorry I was crying but this is what they believe in!

We were the only Jews in the neighborhood - we got some hate calls during Hanukkah.

It feels good to get this off of my chest - you can emphasize.

Where did you grow up, BillieCat? I can't imagine receiving hate calls as a child. I don't think I'd be able to wrap my finger around it. I was so taken aback by the grown man who yelled at me the other night. I guess it's hard to believe that people are really so stupid.

I suppose it's making me realize that the differences even among Jewish people may have a stronger role than we think (a hidden one, perhaps?) and maybe that's why I keep writing about it.

Wow, hard to believe this stuff goes on. I have never experience it. I don't think I have ever met anyone who was that ill informed. The worst that I get, and it happens every year, is the fight with the town over the Christmas tree. People actually say that the Christmas tree is not a religious symbol. Duhh. Spell Christmas tree, and stop after the first six letters. Or, when we fight to get a little Jewish representation they give up the fight and say to respect all faiths, we will just put up more Christmas lights.

I get ignorance, I don't get the antisemitism. The "you people" bothers me.

I've seen a lot of anti-semitism in my life, and grew up as one of the only Jewish kids in my class. Mostly it's just in the form of jokes, but sometimes more.

On my street growing up there were lots of kids. My next door neighbor was Jewish, and we were friends, so I wasn't lonely, but I really liked this one set of sisters who lived down the street. Occasionally they would play with me, but more often they would leave me out.

This was over 30 years ago, and one night recently I was talking to my mom about our friends on our street growing up, and those sisters came up. My mom said, "Maybe you didn't even know, but they weren't allowed to play with you because you were Jewish."

I was so shocked. I had never considered that a possibility.

I grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia, and there is a Jewish population there - not my neighborhood though.

I also had a boyfriend in high school (he was Catholic) whose parents were really nice, but I went over there for Christmas and there was an Aunt and Uncle who had just found out I was Jewish - you wouldn't believe the looks I got after that - like I was a devil or something hideous. What is it with the hatred of Jews? It has been around forever!

I like what you wrote Lisa, about difference amongst Jewish people - how some have experienced Anti-Semitism and some have not. It is very difficult for a child to comprehend this when it is directed towards them. A child doesn't understand why someone hates them for no good reason.

Oy, Frieda... that's life changing - when you realize something from your childhood wasn't exactly as you thought it was.

Carol - I am currently very intrigued by the very different perspectives people have while looking at the same exact thing. I suppose that is happening with the Christmas tree, but - I'm with you - it just doesn't make sense.

BillieCat - you just reminded me of a boy I dated in high school. He told me his parents didn't like Jews and beat him up because he was dating me. He was a chronic liar so I wasn't too worried about him being beaten, but just the fact that he came up with that was pathetic enough.