The Effect of NCSY
This week, we have a very special “guest blog.” A very fine young woman attended the NCSY National Yarchei Kallah and, upon her return, composed the following. We are proud to present it here, with permission, excerpted from a much longer original text.
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In the last week of December, I went on a religious experience/New York trip with my youth group, NCSY. All I can say is that it was it was amazing, thanks to the many friends I made, as well as the experience of davening every day, starting to learn Hebrew, and spending 5 days with people who wanted to help me grow.
Shabbos was the best day of my life. This was when I felt the most connected to people, and when I made the most friends. People were amazingly nice. I actually felt wanted.
People always say that my sister and I are “living in a dream world” and that one day we need to wake up and face reality.
Living in a dream world? A lot of people would agree with you. I am most certainly not one of them.
I sit with two freshmen during my office aide period, and one of them happens to be Jewish. I asked if her family kept Shabbos, and she said, “No.” I asked why, and she said “because we just don’t care. It’s just religion. Religion doesn’t matter.” When I sat with her at lunch, she had a cheeseburger. I kept my mouth shut, because I’m not one to judge people I’m in no position to judge someone anyway. I just sat there, not eating, and fingered my necklace the whole time. After lunch, she asked me, “Why do you wear that star around your neck? It doesn’t mean anything. Do you think G-d notices who wears the Star of David? It doesn’t make you a better Jew.”
Today, she walked up to me and asked me why I wanted to be religious. “Religion doesn’t matter. It won’t get you anywhere. If you are living in a world where all you have to do is pray and not eat certain things, then you aren’t going to get anywhere in life.”
Judaism is not a lifestyle “where all you have to do is pray and not eat certain things.” It is much more than that. Any religious Jew will tell you exactly what Judaism means to them.
I am not living in a dream world. I know what goes on every day. I watch the news, I read the newspapers, and I am aware of the world around me.
A few other kids in school, as well as people I know, seem intimidated by the change they see in me. People who were my friends before begin to start looking in the other direction when I come by, or walking away from me when I want to talk.
I did have someone, however, come up to me, and ask me all these questions about Judaism. Some I could answer, and some, unfortunately, I could not. After our conversation, she told me she was proud of me for being proud to show my religion, to wear my Star of David with pride, and to not bow my head at anything anybody said.
On the day after I went back to school, my gym locker was completely drawn on, with the same kind of “art” that someone carved into my locker last year, only this time the language was a lot more colorful, the words were actually threats, and I admit, it sent a shiver of terror shooting down my spine.
Last year, I cried. This year, I just shook my head, then told my teacher that I had something to report to the main office and I’d be back soon.
Later, they commended me for not falling to pieces and for keeping my head held high even as we knew there was someone in this school who wanted my sister and me out.
This country offers us freedom of religion, and freedom from persecution regardless of age, race, religion, creed, or sexual orientation. So let me exercise my right to learn, and to become a strong Jew.
I reviewed your composition. It is profoundly thoughtful. I shall share it on Shabbot. You wrote,"and be a strong Jew” by writing this you are a strong Jew. You are an amazing young person.You are strong and respectful. May blessings be upon your parents.
Peace,safety, and prosperity be upon you,
RichardPosted by Richard King on 01/12 at 05:09 AMThank you NCSY for reaching out in such a beautiful, meaningful way to help a Jewish girl leave the ‘humble Jew’ category. The ‘humble Jew’ category is one that is fueled by ignorance of Judaism and that non-Jews like to use in order to persecute us. They can expect fear to stop us from standing up for ourselves.
You have given this girl invaluable tools to stand up and fight for herself and Judaism.
Yashar Koach!
Posted by Tammy Gilden on 01/12 at 07:44 AM
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