A Resilient People

Jewish American Heritage Month?

By: Rob Sherry?

This month, I am proud to honor Jewish American Heritage Month and celebrate the rich culture of the Jewish people.?Judaism is both a religion and an ethnicity that is rich in culture, tradition, and history.??

Living a Jewish life means different things for different people. For some it’s walking to synagogue during Shabbat (the sabbath) for prayer. For others it’s pulling out your great-grandmother’s kugel (noodle) recipe during Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) that has been passed down for generations. It’s the years spent at summer camp building friendships. It's learning and education and the value of informed choice. It’s developing a system of beliefs that guides you through life.?For me, Judaism is understanding what it means to be RESILIENT.?

This May, during Jewish American Heritage Month, there are many thoughts racing through my mind. I turned 55 and realize there is no set of instructions for getting older - the shifts in our social and support networks, the struggle of dealing with aging parents, the mixed signals of working full time and starting to think about retirement, or the surprising turns in our relationships with ourselves, families, friends, and colleagues. Many of us will be blessed with unprecedented healthy years ahead, full of potential for learning and growth, and others will struggle with both their mental and physical health, especially in the face of the immense pressure being faced by Jewish people today, in America and around the world, with rampant antisemitism and calls to eliminate the Jewish people and Israel. Many Jewish people today in America are altering how they live by hiding symbols of their Judaism, not going to certain places, not wearing items that identify them as being Jewish, or refraining from posting comments on social media that could signal they are Jewish.?

My first visit to Israel was in September 2022 when it was a time of relative peace throughout the country. Not knowing what to expect, I was instantly comforted to see Arabs, Jews, and Christians working together in restaurants, cafes, malls, farms, and hospitals. This is not the narrative we see in America. Israel is a holy land to many, and, for the most part, people there want the same things we want here – to work, take care of our families, pray to our own God, and simply get through the day safely.??

Our driver was a young Arab man, 22 years old, who had bright red hair. When we first met him, he said to call him “Gingy” as that is what his friends call him. HIS FRIENDS. He was quiet and unassuming, and spent 10 days driving us around Israel so we could see the country and learn about its’ history – both good and challenging. One day at lunch I asked him what he liked most about growing up and living in Israel, and he replied, “because it is beautiful, and I feel safe”. Gingy is Arab and feels SAFE in Israel.??

Fast forward to 2024 in America and many Jewish Americans are probably wondering if they are safer here or somewhere else. For most Jewish Americans, this is the most challenging time to be Jewish in their lifetime. My wish for all, Jews and non-Jews alike, on this Jewish American Heritage Month, is to think about what “Gingy” said. We are friends. We deserve to live in peace. We want our families to be safe. For all Americans, this could mean standing up for what is right, even if it’s hard or not popular. It is time to come together and be RESILIENT.?