Milan Jewish woman describes what it's like to be Jewish amid rising antisemitism – interview

Dalia Gubbay, Vice President of the Jewish Community of Milan, describes the heightened anxiety and challenges faced by Jews in Italy amid rising antisemitism since October 7. She highlights the constant need for police escorts for Jewish children attending school and security at synagogues, stating, "Why do our children have to go to school every day under heavy police escort?" Gubbay also shared personal experiences, including her son's antisemitic incident at a summer camp and her daughter's fear of openly identifying as Jewish at university. The Milanese Jewish community, numbering around 7,000, faces pervasive incitement, particularly in education, and experienced hostility during a Liberation Day march where protesters shouted, "Get out of here; we don't want Jews here." Despite these fears, Gubbay affirms the community's resolve to celebrate Jewish holidays and maintain their identity, emphasizing, "We will not be afraid, nor will we stay at home."