Why Jewish tourists no longer feel safe being visibly Jewish in London - opinion

Jewish tourists, especially those from Israel, are experiencing heightened anxiety about traveling to London, citing intensified security warnings and a perceived lack of safety when visibly identifying as Jewish. The author, Barbara Sofer, grappled with the decision of whether to take her grandsons, Mendy and Tal, on their traditional "London-with-English-Speaking Savta" trip.

Sofer weighed the risks against the potential disappointment for the children, who had already endured numerous cancellations. Her concerns extended beyond typical grandmotherly worries to include avoiding potentially hostile drivers and demonstrations. To mitigate risks, she booked with Moshe London Taxis, an Israeli service, and advised her grandsons to remain within tourist areas, speak only English, fly El Al, and conceal their Jewish identity.

The moment the grandsons had to remove their kippot and tuck away their ritual fringes upon disembarking the plane was particularly poignant for Sofer. They stayed in an apartment hotel near Trafalgar Square, carrying their own kosher food supplies and purchasing hats and T-shirts as a form of disguise. Their sightseeing included the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, The Shard, Shakespeare's Globe, and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter.

During their visit to the Tower of London, one grandson remarked that Jerusalem's tower was significantly older, a factual observation that underscored the historical depth of his homeland. The trip, while filled with tourist activities, was underscored by a constant awareness of their need to blend in and avoid drawing attention to their Jewish heritage in a city where they no longer felt entirely safe being visibly Jewish.

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Good afternoon. Thank you for contacting us and sharing your concerns regarding your recent experience at London Luton Airport. We are truly sorry to hear about the distress you experienced and the negative impact it had on your journey. We have carefully reviewed your complaint and can confirm that our established procedures were not correctly followed in this instance. Ordinarily, all headwear, including baseball caps, must be removed and scanned in our central search area to ensure that they are not utilized to conceal prohibited items. Those checks are important to ensure the safety and security of all airport users.