NOVEMBER 30 • 2023 | 19

said. “It’s how we view the 
world because we’re taught 
in the Jewish faith that 
you do good now, you do 
mitzvahs now, you give to 
the world now. And a lot 
of people don’t realize that. 
We do good because it’s the 
right thing to do.” 
Austin van Uden says 
the experience was “really 
fun” and that he especially 
wanted to spread his Jewish 
pride because of everything 
happening to Jews around 
the world right now. 
“Being Jewish means 
everything to me,” he said. 
His mom said she was 
touched by the outpour-
ing of genuine interest in 
their display. Parents and 
students alike from many 
different backgrounds were 
asking about the menorahs, 
the candles and had many 
other great questions. 
Some parents asked if the 
van Udens had family in 
Israel and conveyed their 
support in this critical time. 
She said the experience 
made her appreciate the 
people in her community, 

who didn’t know much 
about Judaism but still 
showed love and support. 
“They genuinely cared, 
and it made me feel like 
my husband and I chose 
the right community to be 
in, with different cultures, 
religions and ethnicities,” 
van Uden said. “Everybody 
was so welcoming to what 
our table was, that we were 
Jewish, that we were proud 
of it and we stand tall. 
“I wear my Jewish star 
every day. I will not cower. 
I won’t back down. And I 
want my son to be proud, 
to love who he is, and to 
know that being Jewish is 
part of who he is.” 

LEFT: The 
van Udens’ 
display at 
Kenbrook 
Elementary.
BELOW: 
Austin and 
Shayna van 
Uden.

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