As an Israeli-American Jew raising young children in our wonderfully diverse borough, recent displays of Palestinian flags have sparked a mix of emotions within me. While I love raising my family here, these symbols have instilled a genuine fear and made me question if Tower Hamlets is a safe place for Jews.
Symbols like Palestinian flags, in a complex geopolitical context, can carry deep historical and emotional weight. Streets lined with them feel designed to intimidate a minority population rather than show solidarity with another.
Though I typically embrace sharing my background, I hate to say that these days I do not want people to find out that I’m Jewish or have lived in Israel, because I’m afraid of how they would react.
Talia S