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.
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