42 | NOVEMBER 23 • 2023
and the entire Jewish community as we
all share the same fear. But safety? Safety
and support are two different things.
I try to have Hillel events serve as
education events for those who want
to learn more about different aspects
of Judaism. When I saw that Yitzhak
Rabin’s memorial day was on a Friday,
I immediately knew I wanted to do a
Shabbat dinner education event. (This
was back when I was originally planning
out our calendar for the year, back in
August 2023). On Oct. 27, Hillel at
EMU held a Shabbat Education Dinner
learning about Yitzhak Rabin and the
work he had done to implement peace
between Israelis and Palestinians before
he was assassinated in 1995. We even
had our Hillel Israel fellow join us, and
he gave a meaningful speech about
Yitzhak Rabin and how especially now,
we could use someone like him.
“We are talking about someone who
dedicated his life to Israel and Zionism
and the thriving of the Jewish people
and of Israel,” our Israel fellow said.
“He wanted us to believe in the State of
Israel and the Jewish people.”
It feels wrong to celebrate at a time
when others are suffering. On Oct 7,
while Hamas was waging war on Israel,
I was at EMU’s Homecoming football
game. Photos of which I still haven’t
posted because it feels wrong. It feels
wrong that I can never say “throwback
to Oct. 7” and attach a fond memory
to that day. It’s tough, that is all I can
say. Which is the same answer I give to
everyone who asks me how it is going:
“It’s tough.”
OUR HEADS ARE DOWN
With the Jewish student population
being very small at EMU, it is easier
to keep our heads down instead of
standing up and facing a group that
outnumbers us. We are not going out of
our way to post flyers around campus
in support of Israel, while everywhere
we turn, there are many in support of
Palestine. We are keeping our heads
down. Even when someone confronted
me about how it was “freedom of
speech” to put them up but it wasn’t
when I tore them down. I simply said
“OK” and walked away keeping my head
down.
I removed my number as a form of
contact from Hillel at EMU’s Instagram
page after a hateful comment was
directed at me. I am keeping my head
down. I asked my friend if he could
meet me and we could walk to our
destination together in broad daylight
(when I usually ask at night), because it
was a day designated to killing Jews. I
am keeping my head down.
I went without wearing my star
necklace because I was keeping my head
down. When I saw a friend of mine
sharing misinformation about Israel
on her social media, I didn’t confront
her, I just kept my head down. When a
sorority Hillel was collaborating with
for an event promoted our event on an
EMU class snapchat story and was met
with backlash from someone saying
“Not to be a party pooper, but Hillel is a
Zionist organization,” I had the sorority
take down their original post. I had
to explain that we are not promoting
publicly to all the students because we
are keeping our heads down.
With social media encompassing
much of my life, I find it difficult to
avoid. It is how I stay connected to my
friends and former classmates. It is how
I express myself and spread messages
of kindness and positivity. It is also
now where I see misinformation being
spread, and as much as I try to believe
there is good in society, social media
shows me differently.
I have had followers on social media
comment that an attack on Israel is not
a direct attack on the Jewish people.
What they don’t realize is that any attack
on Israel opens the doors for attacks on
the Jewish people.
If there wasn’t an attack on Israel,
would I need police presence at Hillel’s
events? If there wasn’t an attack on
Israel, would I constantly be targeted on
social media? If there wasn’t an attack
on Israel, would I feel pressured to hide
a part of myself that I am so proud of?
If there wasn’t an attack on Israel, would
Jews be getting attacked on college
campuses all over the U.S.? If there
wasn’t an attack on Israel, would I feel
safe walking the same path to my classes
that I’ve walked a thousand times?
Studying sociology, I know that
everyone is susceptible to their
environment growing up and the
lessons it teaches; it is considered one
of the biggest influences in shaping
who we become. Being immersed in
a Jewish environment throughout my
life, I learned that with every attack, we
have come out of it with our heads held
high and with an even stronger sense of
Jewish pride.
So while it may seem neverending,
to everyone who feels my same sense
of fear and needing to keep your head
down, I promise we will lift our heads
up again.
Shayla Mostyn is in her second year in the Honors
College at Eastern Michigan University, majoring in
sociology with a minor in journalism. She is president
of Hillel at EMU, a writer for the Eastern Echo and is a
#EAmbassador for EMU.
Shayla
Mostyn
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