40 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023 

A

HAAHHA. Free Palestine! 
No wonder you came out 
retarded.” 
“Go to Hell, Shayla.” 
“You deserve everything that’s 
happening.” 
These are just three of the many 
messages I have received on my social 
media in response to the attacks on 
Israel. While I know my experience 
cannot even begin to compare to what 
others are going through, I still wanted 
to share.
I went a week without wearing my 
star necklace. It was the first time 
in over a year of attending Eastern 
Michigan University that I felt the 
need to hide my Jewish star necklace 
in public. I never felt this fear before, 
the fear that I truly don’t know those 
around me. 
I found that the best way to feel 
connected to campus was to get 
involved and find a community to be a 
part of. In doing so, I became a part of 

Hillel at EMU my freshman year and 
am now president of Hillel at EMU, with 
it only being my sophomore year. 
Being a leader on campus means 
that you are representing your club/
organization/community that you are a 
part of. Until now, I did not realize the 
full depth of what being a representative 
of my Jewish community meant, 
especially in a place where it is barely a 
percentage of the whole student body. 
Until now, I never would have 
thought of the importance of having 
a police presence at our Hillel events. 
Now, I can’t imagine having an event 
without it. Until now, I never would 
have thought of changing the ways 
we promote our events to the other 
students so that we ensure those who 
view Jews in a negative light don’t come. 
Until now, I never would have 
thought that I would choose a location 
for an event based on how visible we 
would be through the windows. Until 
now, I never would have thought I 

would scan the IDF’s Instagram with its 
lists of fallen soldiers to see if it contains 
the names of friends I used to go to 
camp with who are now in the IDF. 
Until now, I never would have 
thought I would text my former Hebrew 
teacher a message of hope and prayers 
for her family members in Israel instead 
of just catching up on life. 

EDUCATING OTHERS
“I wanted to reach out and check in to 
see how you and the other members 
of Hillel were doing in regards to the 
events in Israel.” Within every email, 
it is the same. They want to establish a 
connection with the Jewish community 
on campus, and they “wish it were 
under better circumstances.” 
I have received many emails from 
different officials at EMU, making it 
clear they are there to keep us safe. 
I don’t know if I would describe this 
feeling I have as safety. I know I have 
support behind me through Hillel, EMU 

for college students 
by college students

Keeping My Head Down

Shayla Mostyn } jewish@edu writer

Joplin Collins, Hillel 
at EMU’s Shabbat 
coordinator, and 
Shayla Mostyn 
at the Shabbat 
Education Dinner 
about Yitzhak 
Rabin

continued on page 42

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