If you’ve ever heard of the “Jewish Geography” game, you’ll know that the Jewish Community is an extremely tight-knit one. While it isn’t exactly true that all Jewish people know each other, it is true that Jewish people are brought together by a unique set of struggles. Antisemitism is an extremely individual issue and can manifest itself in different ways and forms. From hearing comments about my nose, getting asked if I could pay for someone else’s lunch with my “Jew money,” or being assigned work on Jewish Holidays, I have experienced many microaggressions at Agnes Irwin. When I heard about the Jewish Student Union in 9th grade, I knew I had to join it as soon as possible. I joined during my freshman year and quickly learned that many other Jewish students at AIS had gone through similar struggles. While it wasn’t a good thing to know that these were universal struggles, I was comforted by the fact that I was not alone in experiencing them.
Because of JSU, I have learned so much about my own culture and how to face these issues I deal with on a regular basis. I now have a special community of people that I know will be there for me and will understand things that my non-Jewish peers may not. I am able to go to JSU meetings and know that there will be a space where I can share my negative experiences and be met with kindness and support as I confront my problems. JSU is also a place where students can celebrate their culture, or learn about a new one. We celebrate many Jewish holidays together and work on educating the community on what it means to be Jewish. I am grateful for the support that JSU has given me, and I have learned so much from the amazing members. I will continue to learn lessons from JSU and take them with me throughout my life, and I appreciate that opportunity immensely.
