“It breaks my heart”: Viral content creator Non-Jewish Nanny speaks out about antisemitism and the Jewish children she looks after

The popular content creator Adriana Rosie, better known online as the Non-Jewish Nanny, appeared on the most recent episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism where she described what it was like learning about antisemitism through working for Jewish families and her feelings on it being directed towards the children she looks after.

Ms Rosie has amassed millions of views and likes for her entertaining and educational TikTok and Instagram content in which she provides her perspective as a non-Jewish person looking after children from Jewish families.

“I had some free time, and I just started to put stuff on TikTok, regardless of the topic. But, so much of my life is nannying. I’m a nanny, and my kids are all Jewish, but they’re Orthodox, so very immersed into the Jewish culture. And so, I found that when I was telling my funny stories about my day and my nanny-kids, the funny bit about it was like, ‘Oh, and by the way, I’m not Jewish, and this is because they are Orthodox.’ 

“It was a story about kosher things, homework…I found it interesting that the people who took a liking to it, I thought would be other nannies or other people like me who had no idea about the Jewish community, but it was actually the people who were Orthodox and Jewish themselves! They were so kind, they still are.”

Ms Rosie has rapidly grown her online fanbase by taking the time to interact with her followers and show a willingness to learn more about Jewish culture.

The content creator also revealed that she has received emotional messages from Jewish people expressing gratitude for her content, with many stating how refreshing it was to see viral content about the positives of Jewish culture from someone who is not Jewish.

“I get so many messages of people thanking me. Even to start with, my very first job ever, [the mother] said to me, ‘We’re Jewish, is that okay?’ I thought that was such a weird thing, why would she ask me that? Of course that’s okay.

“I feel very sad. Some people have said to me, ‘I’m in my kitchen right now, tearing up, preparing for Shabbat, and I just can’t believe that there’s somebody out here who not only sees what we do and doesn’t think it’s weird and hate it, but they are actually so interested and think its endearing, interesting, respectful.”

She went on to say: “Sometimes the antisemitic and the harsher and mean voice is louder…there are people out there like me who love you guys, who think nothing different of what you do and respect it, and respect the culture and religion.”

During the interview, Ms Rosie revealed that one of the mothers she works for explained to her the concerns around safety that identifiably Jewish people face.

“One of the mums had said to me, ‘We have so much security at our synagogue because we get threats, and we sometimes do feel unsafe walking to shul (synagogue) on Shabbos and we feel unsafe, people are looking at us, people can tell…’ I was so blown away that they felt that way…it kind of broke my heart.” 

Getting onto the topic of antisemitism in relation to the children that she cares for, Ms Rosie passionately stated: “I have now been in public with my babies, with their yarmulkes (skullcaps) and their tzitzit (fringes on a Jewish prayer shawl)…it breaks my heart, it makes me want to cry, because who could ever harm, or hate, or care to threaten a family and culture that is so wholesome, grounded, accepted and loving? 

“They keep to themselves, you know? They do not bother, they do not harm, they literally revolve their life around worshipping Hashem and living in the best way that they possibly can, and who would want to harm that and damage that? When I think about the kids, who I love…they’re my brothers and sisters, I love those kids, I look at them with their yarmulkes…it’s sad to me that people could view them on the street and think badly.”

Sending a message to any would-be antisemites, Ms Rosie fervently proclaimed: “[When] I’m with them, I’m like ‘These are my kids right now, don’t you dare do anything to make them feel a certain way!’”

This podcast can be listened to here, or watched here.

Podcast Against Antisemitism, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, talks to a different guest about antisemitism each week. It streams every Thursday and is available through all major podcast apps and YouTube. You can also subscribe to have new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Previous guests have included comedian David Baddiel, television personality Robert Rinder, writer Eve Barlow, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, and actor Eddie Marsan.