Jewish, activist and proud – but still a mother's voice afraid for her children: Milan through the eyes of Dalia Gabay
Dalia Gabay, vice president of the Jewish community in Milan, describes in an interview with Maariv a reality of heavy security, rising antisemitism, and fear for her children's future. She recounts an antisemitic incident her son experienced at a Bnei Akiva camp in Bulgaria, her daughter's fear of identifying as Jewish at university, and a sense of shock at protests on Italy's Liberation Day. Despite the fear, Gabay refuses to hide her identity and calls for not giving up.
Dalia Gabay, vice president of the Jewish community in Milan, is interviewed by the newspaper Maariv and paints a grim picture of Jewish life in Italy. She describes a reality where children are escorted to school with heavy police security, and synagogue worshippers are asked to disperse immediately after prayer for fear of their safety. Gabay reveals her personal anxiety as a mother: her son was involved in an antisemitic incident at a Bnei Akiva summer camp in Bulgaria, and her 18-year-old daughter, a passionate Zionist, debates whether to hide her Jewish identity at university for fear of harm. The most shocking moment for her was on April 25, Italy's Liberation Day, when protesters shouted at members of the Jewish community, "Get out of here." Gabay says the police asked them to leave for their safety, and she felt as if they had returned to the 1930s. Despite the fear, Gabay refuses to remove the Star of David she wears and emphasizes that the community will not stay home during the High Holidays. She calls on the public in Israel to understand that Diaspora Jews also wage a daily struggle for their identity and their right to support Israel.