I decided to spend a semester away from my home in Atlanta, Georgia, and my university, Washington University in St. Louis exploring the world. I decided on London, as it was a great fit for me to continue my studies in English. I have been to London before and felt I had a good grasp of the city. London is a diverse city rich in culture and people, which appealed to me. Student accommodations placed me in a dorm in East London, at Queen Mary University with other WashU students. The vibe of East London is quite different from the London I had imagined and visited many times before. I can say with confidence that I am one of very few Jews living in Mile End, as it is a predominantly Arab neighborhood, with many mosques and practitioners of Islam. For the contentious time we are living in, vocalizing my Judaism here scares me, and it is not something I have done or want to do. Most of the graffiti on the street, and posters on poles center around Palestinian liberation. While I’m not sure what would happen if I did decide to explore my Judaism here or try to find a Jewish community here; it is something I am hesitant about. At school, I am surrounded by a big Jewish community including my immediate friend group so being here without them and that environment feels different, foreign, and even scary. Traveling outside of London I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to visit so many historic cities with deep origins in Judaism. I have loved having the ability to immerse myself in those places which has helped me realign with a part of my Jewish identity which I don’t always feel like outwardly expressing here.

Image Source: https://londoncallingblog.net/2024/12/12/new-zomby-graffiti-around-east-london/