Throughout the past five years, I could never imagine opening up publicly about being a target of anti semitism. Now, more than ever, I feel compelled to write to all of you on what I dealt with and in the end how it made me a stronger person.
During my freshman year, I went to a holiday parade in my town with my two best friends from camp. As we were watching the parade, I received alarming text messages from a blocked number. I received multiple pictures of people burning the Torah and Hanukkah books along with pictures of people smashing menorahs.
I became petrified when the same number sent photos of me at a certain time of day. Someone was watching me, and I didn't know who it was. Finally, I went home and the police came over to investigate. In shock, they police found out it was a classmate of mine. Every day of that year, I was always in a ' fight-or-flight' mode. I was constantly stressing whether I should expect something else to happen whether it was the the dirty looks I would get or the laughing in the hallway.
Just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, I had another incident occur the next spring. Another one of my classmates started to send me Holocaust jokes on a daily basis. The worst one I got was "What is the difference between a boy scout and a Jew"?... "Boy scouts come back from camp, Jews don't." Proceeded by these daily jokes, this person would rip up my lab papers I did and began to tell his group of friends to call me "it." I felt like I was invisible and not even a human.
I developed anxiety and depression to the point where I needed temporarily needed medication. As a 14 year old, this was traumatic time and will always stick with me. These events have not defined me, but have helped shaped me into the person I am today.
After I visited Israel last winter, I connected to Judaism on a deeper level. I have been very active in my temple for my entire life in different ways. I worked in the main office and as teacher assistant in Sunday school.
I was raised to be a proud Jew through Torah (study), Avodah (love), and Gemilut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness). As Jews, we need to be there for one another and stand up for our beliefs.
To this day, I do not know why I was the main target of these vicious acts. The following year, I transitioned to a private school with the love and support of family and friends.
I encourage anyone experiencing anti semitism to have a voice and speak up. Advocate for yourself and create a support network within your family and friends.
For those of you that know me personally, I hope that this can give you an more of an insight on why I am who I am.
Why I look out for my loved ones as much as I do.
Why I try to listen and sympathize with others.
And most importantly why I stand up for injustice.
