NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 | 45
J
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ripping down posters of kid-
napped children or shouting 
“Glory to Our Martyrs” and 
“The Resistance is Justified” 
on the walk to class any less 
heartbreaking. 
But, what I have also seen 
these past few weeks, in a 
way that I’
d never before, is 
Jews coming out in force. 
Thousands at vigils across 
campuses. A parent’s rally at 
Michigan with a sea of Israeli 
flags. People who had never 
expressed interest sudden-
ly flooding their Instagram 
feeds with educational graph-
ics (perhaps persuaded by 
the conspicuous lack of posts 
from those who had been oh 
so active a couple years ago). 
My friends and I discussed 
how we wanted to start wear-
ing the necklaces of Hebrew 
names or Stars of David that 
had been collecting dust since 
our bat mitzvahs. There’s been 
an outpouring of interest in 
Shabbat dinners, in going to 
services, in leaning into our 
Jewish identities with affec-
tionate pride. 
I texted my family that the 
first thing I want to do when 
I get home for Thanksgiving 
is make challah and go to 
Shabbat services that Friday 
night, craving my home 

Jewish community and sense 
of belonging in a way that I 
had never before.
They joined me next in 
D.C. for the rally on Nov. 14 in 
what I hope sent waves across 
the world that, yes, we are 
visibly Jewish, and yes, we are 
proud of it. 
In this environment, show-
ing up counts just as much 
as speaking out. It could be a 
bright blue Star of David on 
your hand — as I intend to go 
back and make even bright-
er. It could be a kippah, or a 
necklace, or just going to local 
Friday night services. 
I don’t see an end to this 
conflict soon or an easy 
solution. I wish there was an 
answer to the hundreds and 
hundreds of questions we all 
have about the future of Israel 
and the Jewish people. I think 
education and maintaining 
our core values will get us 
there eventually, but in the 
meantime, we must all lean in 
with an unrelenting sense of 
love, community and determi-
nation. 
It’s time to start being visibly 
Jewish and show the rest of 
the world we’re proud of it. @

Isabel Allard is a student at the 

University of Michigan.

Isabel Allard 
attends the 
University of 
Michigan.

For Grand Valley students, next is opportunity 
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