On Feb. 28, the Iran War began when Israel and the United States launched coordinated airstrikes targeting sites across Iran. Within hours, Iran retaliated with missiles, escalating the conflict into a full-scale war. Millions were displaced, and 1,800 children have been killed or injured. While life continues as normal for most at Cherry Hill High School East, some students sit in fear for their family back home. To better understand their perspectives, Eastside interviewed two students who have family in Iran and Israel, focusing on how their mental health has been affected.
Leah Molavi (‘27) shared that her extended family had nearly been bombed, cutting off all communication and sending her into an immediate panic. Molavi has numerous relatives that live in Tehran and Shiraz, both of which are large cities in Iran and have been major targets in the ongoing war. Despite this, her perspective on war is clear.
“When people bring up the war … as much as I love my family, I just don’t personally feel like war should ever be an option,” Molavi said.
Molavi further explained that while she’s proud of her Persian heritage, the Iranian war has made her more hesitant to share it.
“I’m very open about the fact I have Persian roots, [but] because of everything happening, I feel like I can’t be as open about it,” Molavi said. “My family was able to come here from Iran and I feel like that’s worth sharing.”
Julie Lerman (‘26) has had a similar experience. Her extended family lives in many different locations across Israel, but she has three teenage cousins living in Kfar Sabar. The area has faced constant sirens and missile threats, perpetually forcing residents into bomb shelters.
“There are times when [my cousins] have to go to the bomb shelter … almost every single day,” Lerman said. “They are trying to make the best of the situation as possible.”
Despite constant stress in both Molavi and Lerman’s lives, those surrounding them at East have done little to support their struggles. Lerman and Molavi have watched people hurl microaggressions at those suffering in Iran and Israel, with little awareness of the pain they spread.
“It’s just been easier for people to throw microaggressions at people because they can back it up with an event that’s happened,” Molavi said. “I have family from Iran and people connect [them] back to 9/11.”
Lerman has had a similar experience, witnessing a place that is meant to be a peaceful sanctuary become a target.
“There is a synagogue [named] Adath Emanu-El … and someone put a swastika [on the side of the building],” Lerman said. “It hit home personally. … Even though the Holocaust was so far away, they are still [targeting Jewish people].”
After the Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, there were outbreaks of anger from both Palestinian and Israeli students, leading to physical and verbal altercations. East responded poorly, only attempting to shove the deep anger both sides had for each other under the rug. Students were forced to stop wearing any clothing showing support for their country, which was a weak and lazy approach for a school that constantly claims that ‘hate has no home here.’ Lerman and Molavi provided insight on whether they thought the same violence would break out regarding the Iranian war, and had similar anxieties over the idea.
“Of course, it’s very possible,” Molavi said. “I think emotions were very high that day. … If something similar were to happen [to] Oct. 7, it would spark some kind of fight.”
Lerman shared the same sentiment.
“Obviously, I am a bit concerned,” Lerman said. “I feel like what happened [at East] was out of confusion and anger.”
For other students, life goes on regardless of the war, which in short, is the privilege of living in the United States. But for Lerman and Molavi, their lives are partly on hold while their families back home experience atrocities we can only read about in the news.