Tomer Hemed's wife: "If it were up to me, I would return to Israel tomorrow"
After receiving direct threats that led to the assignment of personal security, Shunit Hemed shares the dramatic difficulties of living abroad, the fear of couriers arriving at the door, and the great confusion of their five daughters.
Shunit Hemed-Farji does not hide the pain of living abroad, especially when the security and social reality surrounding her family becomes more complex by the day. Since moving to Brighton, England, following the coaching career of her husband, former footballer Tomer Hemed, she finds herself balancing national pride with maternal concern for their five daughters. From her perspective, the aspiration to return home to Israel is clear, and she clarifies:
"If it were up to me, I would return to Israel tomorrow."
She admits that "Israel is our home even in the hardest of times, and I don't need to explain how painful it is for me to hide my flag," but emphasizes that family considerations and supporting her husband are what currently drive their decisions.
Life outside of Israel has always been worrying, but the last few months have brought an increase in hate incidents. The events of October 7 were a turning point, as the atmosphere of hostility on social media moved off the web and turned into real threats. "They never liked us, but today I feel that they really want to kill us, that is the difference," she shares her feelings in an interview with 'La'Isha'. The threats began with a petition calling for Tomer's firing because he is Israeli, and escalated to incitement in live broadcasts on social media and even direct threats that led to the assignment of personal security for the family. "We are afraid even when a courier arrives, if he saw the mezuzah," she describes the tension that accompanies them.
Amidst all this storm, Hemed-Farji's great challenge remains the home front and parenting five young daughters. As someone who has studied the field of parenting and learned the Adlerian approach, she tries to mediate the situation for the girls. Reactions on the street and conversations at school force her to find the right words, as she testifies to the difficulty, saying: "The girls are confused by the situation, and the hardest thing is to look them in the eyes and explain to them why they hate us." To protect them, the family sometimes has to keep a low profile, and alongside the pride in their Jewish and Israeli identity, it was decided to prioritize personal safety and prevent unnecessary friction from managing their daily routine.
Despite the challenges and the difficult feeling of being away from home, the family chooses to see the opportunities in staying abroad and to make the most of it for the girls. Hemed-Farji notes that decisions are made out of full partnership and mutual concession, out of a desire to allow Tomer to fulfill his professional dream at the Brighton academy. She continues to develop her independent career as a social media influencer and parenting instructor, and finds bright spots in the experiences the girls are gaining overseas. At the same time, the desire to return to their roots remains stable.
