100 days.
I’m quiet on social media about the current situation in Israel and Gaza but it weighs heavily on my heart daily.
I prefer to discuss it in person because, in my experience, words can be misinterpreted and my anxiety does not allow me to put my mental health on the line. I appreciate those of you who have found the words to express yourself and can speak for those of us who do not know what to say.
One week before the attacks on October 7th my family booked non-refundable tickets to Israel for our kids to become B’nai Mitzvah. Jared has family there and we connected with a rabbi who is going to lead our kids through the ceremony. The tradition is something important to me as my Grandmother was the third woman ever to to become a Bat Mitzvah and it makes be proud for my daughter and son to follow in our footsteps.
When I was a kid I always scouted out the best places to hide in case “they” ever came for me. I grew up with first hand accounts of the Holocaust and found it unfathomable that my heritage could produce the amount of hate that could get me and my family killed.
I truly felt like it was never again. As an American Jew I felt safe. Most antisemitism seemed far away. Sure, we had a neo-n@z! brochure on our car once but it wasn’t something I saw on the regular.
That’s until now. The rise in antisemitism is something I feel and I see first hand. I feel like it’s a political statement just wearing my necklace with the word חַי, something that is important enough to have tattooed on me. If I want to be proud of my heritage it feels like a political statement and it makes me feel scared.
100 days.
That’s how long since people were ripped from their lives for existing.
Thats how long hostages have gone without aid from the Red Cross.
Thats how long I’ve been nervous to show my heritage for fear of being targeted.
Thats 100 days too long.
Just Sarah 