"Someone powerful up there is making money off the wars."
Natalie
Location: Florentine Circus, Kfar Hayarok
Residence: Tel Aviv
Age: 29
The encounter: Natalie is the administrative organizer of the circus program my kids attend.
What is your occupation?
I work as an administrator and event organizer for the circus. It’s an amazing place, I love being here. But I just do administrative work; I’m not a circus performer. I also try to start my own business as a fashion designer. I make and sell handbags and other accessories.
How do you describe your religious or national identity?
I’m secular, but with an interest in religion. I eat shrimps, but I celebrate Jewish holidays and I feel Jewish and respect the religion.
Can you tell me a bit about your family?
My father died when I was young and my mom remarried. I have two wonderful brothers.
Where is your family from?
My parents were born here. My father’s parents came from Morocco, and my stepdad is from Chili. My mom is of German-Austrian origin. My mom’s father was born in Israel, but his parents came from Germany before the Second World War. He’s in his eighties now. After my grandmother died, he remarried with a Persian woman. So, my family is really a mix of everything!
What are your hopes and expectations for the future of this land?
I hope we’ll be more united as a society in the future. Our biggest problem is economic inequality. There’s extreme wealth and extreme poverty, and that’s causing a lot of tension and suffering. The poor have no chance to get ahead. We need to find ways to close the wealth gap, starting by improving the education system.
I’m very Zionist, and I trust that in the end everything will turn out well. But of course I’m afraid of the future. If I have children one day, I don’t want them to suffer.
I’m afraid there won’t be peace because, unfortunately, it’s not in the economic interest of the world powers. I believe some powerful parties are making money off the situation. If they really wanted to make peace, they could easily do it. The common people want peace, but someone powerful up there is making money off the wars.