It's So Beautiful to Be a Jew

My fellow Jews:

After some discussion, I have a suggestion on one way forward in the battle against antisemitism.

The first one is to look into my heart, our own hearts. I am going to write a precious word below.

Jew

I will write it again.

Jew

I will write it again.

Jew

I will write it again.

Jew

What is your gut reaction to that word?

Is it joy or thoughts of being Hashem's precious children?

Is it fear or anger?

If it is anything other than positive, then the healing has already begun.

Any negative associations are not the truth. Through prayer or journaling or meditation, one can identify what negative ideas and emotions one has internalized from media, school, or family.

It may be after learning about the Holocaust that you developed a fear of being a Jew or hatred towards the weight of that truth.

You may have picked up stereotypical ideas about Jews being only out for themselves, nerdy, and weak and identified Jewishness with them.

You may have been taught ideas that Judaism is about law and not love.

You may have been afraid to stand out and felt being Jewish is uncool.