The students who inspire us
Amidst the shameful chaos engulfing our universities, some truly inspiring images have emerged.
Students helping each other put on Tefillin against a backdrop of Jewish hate, dancing on a party bus to the words “I’m so proud to be a Jew,” and saying Shema against the backdrop of an encampment at the University of Illinois.
These students “get it.” They understand that this is simply a “moment,” and we are a timeless people. Where chaos reigns, they are connected to the foundations of the universe, and in a world that’s lost its direction, they are tapping into a foundational compass.
While others intimidate with strobe lights, they light the candles of Shabbat. When others are asking for zip ties, they tie Tefillin on their arms, and where others shout cries of divisiveness, they cry out the ultimate unity, “Hashem Echad”—there is one creator and maker of all.
These students remind us that while moments like these are scary, they do not shake the Am Hanetzach, the people of eternity.
When the “antisemitism task force” has failed, what can we do for our Jewish students on campus?
We can nurture that sense of pride. We can help connect them with their timeless identity, and we can offer them the opportunity to be active participants of the most dynamic people in the world.
