This is my latest column for the Jewish Chronicle
I never told you the one about how a Christian/Hindu cult helped me love Israel and Judaism, did I? As a non-Jew who proudly supports Zionism and is fascinated by Judaism, particularly the mystical and Hasidic traditions, I am often asked how I came to feel this way. To me, the real question is why someone would not support Israel and admire Judaism, but of course I understand the curiosity.
The short answer – which I’ve blogged about and mentioned during speeches – is that I became fascinated by the Middle East after the September 11 attacks. To my surprise, having previously had a lazy, hazy perception that Israel were the villains of the conflict, I became more and more pro-Israel the more I learned about the issue. So I started visiting Israel and quickly fell in love with the place.
However, I’ve never written or spoken publicly about a challenging childhood experience that had a part to play in this. When I was nine, I joined a new school in London. I was so excited to be leaving primary school and joining a new, ‘grown-up’ establishment. What I didn’t realise until I got there was that 99 percent of the pupils and their families were members of bizarre religious cult, as were all the staff.
The cult, which dominated the school, combined Victorian sternness with less savoury elements of Christianity and Hinduism to create a cruel concoction. I was a member of the one percent of pupils with no connection to the cult. This meant that twice a day, as my classmates meditated and chanted Sanskrit, I had to go to a dark room in the basement and sit kicking my heels with the other odd ones out of the school.
It also meant I was pressured to join the cult. The more I resisted this pressure, the more I was targeted by the staff. It was astounding how quickly the teachers could turn a maths, English or science class into a free-for-all discussion of how I came from an “impure” family.
The staff strongly discouraged pupils from befriending me and at times some of the teachers were violent with me. At one point I was even handed a year-long detention, which meant I couldn’t leave the school until 6.30pm on weekdays and not before mid-afternoon on Saturdays.
For six years I resisted the pressure to join the cult and then at 16 I was finally able to leave the godforsaken place. Years later, in 2007, an inquiry found that “mistreatment” and “criminal assaults” had taken place when I was there. It is possible that one can never completely move on from such an experience – the question is how to create a positive legacy.
Which brings me to my love of Israel. I think that as result of what I faced at school I have developed a stronger empathy for anyone who is unfairly singled out. For instance, when Kofi Annan – then the Secretary General of the UN – was asked why the UN so disproportionately targets Israel, and replied: “Can the whole world be wrong?” he made my blood boil. As I knew from my schooling, sometimes yes, the whole world can be wrong.
Recently, while dining with a Jewish family I’m friendly with, I sensed a wider connection. I was telling them about my strange school, when the wise father of the household turned to me and said: “You were like the Jew at school – that’s why you understand us.”
I had never thought of it that way, as I consider the story of the Jewish experience to be as much about the inspiration of your enormous achievements and inspiring example as it is the hatred you have faced.
But I can see his point – and within it is the positive legacy I sought. Perhaps if I had not been so tested as a child I would not have subsequently stood at the Kotel, nor watched the sunset in Tel Aviv, nor heard of the wondrous Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Nachman, whose teachings now enrich my life.
Whatever took me here I am glad it did. After all, supporting Israel and admiring Judaism is the only sensible way to roll.
Walk a mile in someone’s shoes…
First, you were put in a small and persecuted minority and second, you resisted attempts to make you like the majority. Third, it was religious in nature, which often confuses things.
Some Jews do their best to assimilate and disappear, while others persist in and insist on being visibly set apart. As a race, God won’t let the Jew be completely dismayed, defeated, or disappear. I’m happy that these things didn’t happen to you either.
How the hell can a person…yes a person, not a Jew..disappear, unless he physically dies. Are you crazy or something? If a Jew assimilates, he doesn’t disappear, he changes. get real.You seem to think that not being a Jew means you cease to exist. That stinks.
Thanks, Jonathan.
While I’m here, Chag Pesach Sameach to all my Jewish friends.
What a terrible experience, no wonder you have such a strong character.
You are quite right, the world (or the majority) can quite often be wrong but it takes some bravery to go against the tide. It’s worth remembering that many majority ideas start off as minority ideas – great movements against inequality and injustice started with just a small band of people with radical ideas. There may be safety in numbers, but not always truth. Keep being you!
Fascinating blog Chas! Clearly your strength of mind and determined nature shone through from an early age! Chag sameach.
Wow, Chas! I didn’t know things like that went on in schools in England so recently! How did all that get past inspectors etc? I remember as a very young child the advertisement for some TV rental firm that said “X million viewers can’t be wrong!” and I said to my Dad “Why can’t X million viewers be wrong?!” Sometimes I think the more people are sure something is true or right, the more suspicious we need to be.
And ditto to Jonathan, Ana and Damian. What a superb article for Pesach, am going to print it to read at the seder, thanks and chag sameach!
Thanks for the supportiveness!
It still feels a bit odd having written about this publicly. Even many of my friends didn’t know about this until yesterday!
very sad to read you had to go through this but very happy knowing that all is good now – youve made a great life and the school has hopefully now changed its ways.
See you soon!
Ah ha! persecution as a lad, and for nothing except not being one of the majority and for refusing to join that majority (which happened to be a cult! Very Jewish indeed. Seriously though, what a repulsive experience.
well, you know what Chas? whatever works. From the awful to the terrific and you’ve certainly made the most of your life since that awful time. You’re very lucky – or deliberately worked on this – that you haven’t become bitter or twisted but remain a friendly, sociable type.
Kofi Annan’s statement is equally repulsive, but then, so, i understand, is the man himself, being incredibly corrupt. Conformity and numbers is NEVER a good argument for establishing what is right, merely for what is done.
May i recommend a terrific book I’m reading which is very inspiring indeed:
Outwitting History: How One Man Saved a million Yiddish books and Saved a Civilisation by Aaron Lansky.
A must read for anyone who cares about Jewish culture and history, and frankly it’s just a great great story.
Ooops, I forgot – a very Happy Easter indeed to Chas and Christians on this blog and Chag sameach to all fellow Jews.
Fascinating story Chaz. And it is good to see you post again, LOL!
i’m speechless.
i’m an Israeli, describing myself “not the most liberal person and not the most conservative person as well”, but my short time outside of Israel was like this in some levels.
I’m curious to know what this cult called itself?
And I also have been studying Judaism lately and I have come to the understanding that it is an ideology of racial self worship.
that’s because u stupid
that’s a bit deep for me. try another angle.
There is no other angle Roger. It is you who defined the trajectory.
No Joshua..it’s the Jews who define the ‘trajectory’ with their chauvinism, elitism and separatism.
u troll u stupid u get not
me Tarzan you Jane
Well Chas, the intellectual challenges on here are overwhelming me.It’s a good thing in a way, because if I were forced to go into the details about Jewish racism and supremacism using authentic sources, some folks here would be climbing the walls of pathological denial. Suffice to say for the time being that for the last 2000 years racist moral degenerates like Rabbis Akiva, Yohai, Maimonides, Kook, Zalman, Schneerson, Yousef etc, etc, have stated repeatedly that gentiles are sub-human with no souls. Feel the love!
I suppose it depends on whose Judaism you study? The Judaism I study says that all human beings were created from Adam so that no person nor tribe could claim to be better than another.
I suggest that if racial self-aggrandizement is your impression of Judaism, then you have been very selective in the sources you’ve read and the people you talk to.
And looks like he started with agenda and moved the facts to fit what he wanted to find
You should be getting an honorary Israeli citizenship!
completaly unrelated: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4213529,00.html
b.t.w. I named your blog… I thought it would fit since the far left is trying to sell Israelis the “The Guardian” image of Britain, in order to harm Zionism morality through the argument of “this is what the progressive, free thinking journalists think of us…” why they include themselves in “us” though is suspicious.
A very interesting post, Chas. If it’s not too painful a question, I’d love to know why your parents made you remain at the school as you must have told them what was happening to you at the time. All the best for Easter,regards from Natalie in Israel. xx
Thank you Natalie!
Very good question – I’ve never quite got to the bottom of that!
Chag Sameach xx
Chas,
Ah, yes…I was trying to explain the school half way up the Atlas Mountains not three days ago. I believe I words I used included “Victorian”, “Odd”, “Hippy”, “Boxing” and “Sadistic”. Good times.
I hated the boxing classes – dreaded them! Nice to hear from you.
[...] following essay was written by Chas Newkey-Burden and published at The Jewish Chronicle. I never told you the one about how a Christian/Hindu cult [...]
Just one of the many legitimate reasons people hate Zionism:
http://careandwashingofthebrain.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/what-is-it-with-israeli-armys-feces.html
Yeah, looks like a very reliable source.
Quite ridiculous, Charles. You seem to spout the same venom each time you make a comment!
Yeah Thomas find one allegation made against a handful of Israeli soldiers, treat it as if it is correct and proven, then use that to damn an entire, centuries old ideology, while implicitly pretending that no other army in the world has ever done wrong.
Nobody will think you are an idiot.
centuries old ideology? Zionism dates from 1897, when the first World Zionist Congress was held in Basel. The new Jewish ‘people’ were invented then.
Another interesting fact. The Star of David was chosen as the Zionist symbol in 1898. It has nothing to do with David and very little to do with Jews. It is an oriental pagan symbol of the unification the male and female principles, found in a number of other cultures. It was bequeathed to the <jews of prague by King Charles IV, an occultist. Like the modern Israelis,The Magen David has no connection with the ancient Israelites and Judeans.
centuries old ideology? Zionism dates from 1897…
Which is three centuries ago.
Yeah right, that’s why its mentioned in the Psalms, found on 2 millenia old tombstones and 10th century documents. And no doubt King Charle’s influence reached all the way to the Bene Yisrael (Felasha) in Ethiopia and the Bene Menashe in Burma.
In all cases the Magen David trumps the Jolly Roger.
Thomas, I notice that the site linked is Australian. I’m not sure Aussies should be lecturing new nations about how well or otherwise they treat fellow aboriginal inhabitants of their land…
NM, when the British invaded Australia in the 1700′s there was widespread oppression of the Aborigines. Their land was taken from them through deception, they were murdered, discriminated against.
Today aborigines are able to claim their land back under native-title. The PM famously acknowledged and apologised to the indigenous people for the wrongs of colonialism, on a day now marked as a “national day of healing”. This generation of Australians are working to make amends for the atrocities of colonialism.
When Israel allows indigenous Palestinians to claim back their houses under native-title, and makes amends for all the wrongs since the invasion, then I will stop lecturing.
“When Israel allows indigenous Palestinians to claim back their houses under native-title, and makes amends for all the wrongs since the invasion, then I will stop lecturing.”
LOL!!! aside from the shit about “invasion”, just so pompous – as if you are a major player!
NM, there is so much hypocrisy and insanity in Australia re Israel. It is mostly, as you intimated, projection. And I write as one who qualifies for an Aussie passport!
Chas, having just read your article I’d like to add my words of support with others who found it moving. While saddened to have learned about the pain you had to experience I believe that by sharing the experience, you have helped others.Your indefatigable fight against bigotry and your support for Israel is inspiring. I wish you well.
Thanks, AJ. And backatcha!
Aside from any psychological similarity related to being a lone religious holdout, I wonder if the connection to Judaism is also at a deeper human level?
Ethnicity aside, there is a lot in Jewish culture and tradition that speaks to the problem of human inflicted suffering and the challenge of maintaining hope and human dignity in the face of such experiences.
Thank you again for all the kindness.
Hi Chas,
What a great column I just read of yours in the JC it would be great if you were a permanent weekly fixture there. I thought by your title you were the only Jew in school quite literally, because I was! I changed schools from a girls private to a local comprehensive and did not speak for a year as I was singled out for being different and a Jew amidst one other in a different class and who joined later. You have inspired me to write about that painful year. What a dreadful experience you must have had, worthy of a book I would read…… I thought I would ignore the ignorant Roger, but perhaps he is worth a mention of the ingnorance we face as a race.
Kind regards and thanks for your honest account
Denise Kingsley-Acton
sorry ignorance!!