4 | MARCH 2 • 2023 

essay
Hillel is a Powerful Resource

for openers
Open Wide

M

y name is Jenna 
Friedman and I’m 
a student at Wayne 
State University. Last year, I 
was taking my normal walk-
through campus 
when I came 
across a table 
with a sign that 
read; “Green 
energy: more 
efficient than 
Auschwitz,
” 
accompanied 
by windmills that had the 
blades replaced with swastikas. 
Instantly, I felt my heart drop 
through my chest. I knew that 
this sign was not only insensi-
tive, but dangerous.
I tucked my Star of David 
necklace under my shirt, 
walked up to the table, pulled 

out my phone and snapped a 
picture. I was about to go back 
to my dorm room and cry, but 
then I remembered: I could 
turn to Hillel of Metro Detroit. 
I had a team of people behind 
me. I was not alone.
I sent the picture to the Hillel 
staff and my fellow members 
of the school’s Jewish Student 
Organization. I was instantly 
met with messages of concern 
and support. Then, we were 
able to meet up and discuss 
what we had just seen. I got the 
opportunity to first process my 
emotions in a safe space and 
then take action. 
From there, Hillel helped me 
contact the Dean of Students, 
campus police, and they 
even reached out to the Anti-
Defamation League (ADL). 

When the administration 
stated that there was “nothing 
they could do” about the sign 
because the organization had 
“free speech” and it was “on 
public property,
” Hillel did not 
take no for an answer. They 
continued to fight for me and 
the other Jewish students to 
ensure the table was removed 
from campus.
This experience was draining 
for me, but not nearly as much 
as it would have been if I had 
to endure it alone. Because I 
had support, I was able to actu-
ally cope rather than spend all 
of my energy fighting.
I had seen antisemitism 
displayed before in person, 
although never in this capacity, 
and had to process and fight 
against it alone. I did not have 

people who could comfort me 
and stand up with me. Before, 
it was only me, and I would feel 
powerless.
But having Hillel on my 
side made me feel powerful. 
Although my first reaction to 
the sign was fear, as I assume 
it would be for any of us, that 
feeling quickly disappeared 
when Hillel provided me with 
the resources to help me turn 
my pain into power. Now, not 
only can I be openly Jewish 
on campus, but I can also be 
proudly Jewish. 

Jenna Friedman is a junior at Wayne 

State University majoring in social work. 

She is the Jewish Student Organization 

President. She shared this story at the 

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan 

Detroit’s Women’s Philanthropy 

Signature Event on Feb. 13.

O

ften, I have exhorted 
readers to be more 
aware of their con-
versational English. In doing 
so, I have not given due respect 
to the orifice 
that utters those 
words. Well, here 
goes …
Someone who 
cannot control 
their talk could 
be known as a 
motor-mouth. 
This person could say bad 
things about others (bad mouth 
them), be boisterous (a loud 
mouth/have a big mouth) or be 
a constant braggart (shoot off 
his mouth).
If you entrust someone with 
a secret, you are hoping they 

can be closed-mouthed about 
it. Those who cannot, suffer 
from foot-in-mouth disease; 
they need to learn to keep their 
mouths shut.
At one time, people who 
were well off may have been 
described as being born with 
a silver spoon in their mouth. 
They did not know what it was 
to have to live hand-to-mouth.
If you are an activist, you may 
serve as the mouthpiece for a 
group, but do not let someone 
put words in your mouth.
When you see a wonder of 
nature, you may gaze open-
mouthed. If you savor some-
thing wonderful, it may make 
your mouth water.
Someone who protests his 
innocence may act as if butter 

would not melt in his mouth. 
When called to action, this per-
son would be challenged to put 
his money where his mouth is.
Word of a “good thing” often 
spreads by word of mouth; but 
be wary of investing, even if you 
get information from the horse’s 
mouth. If you truly benefit from 
a good deal, don’t look a gift 
horse in the mouth — just enjoy 
your winnings.
Have you ever heard some-
thing very wise from someone 

very young? Truly, “out of the 
mouths of babes.
”
Ever been really frightened? 
You may feel as if you had your 
heart in your mouth. Gotten 
angry? Then you may foam 
at the mouth; this, however, 
should not lead you to mouth 
off at someone.
Let me leave you with some-
thing to ponder. Are you aware 
that dentists are often sad? They 
are always down in the mouth. 
(Did you bite for that? Sorry.) 

PURELY COMMENTARY

Jenna 
Friedman

Sy Manello 
Editorial 
Assistant

