A few days ago, I attended a book talk for On Being Jewish Now, a collection of essays reflecting on Jewish life after October 7. About 50 people had gathered inside a posh clothing store in Beverly Hills, and before long the conversation gave way to a familiar ritual of trauma bonding and story telling. Personal accounts of fear, identity, and all the difficult ways our lives have changed over the last twenty months.

One woman shared that she had recently moved her son to a Jewish high school. The young man was there and confidently chimed in about how much he loves his new school, relieved to no longer worry about harassment or having to hide who he is. The room applauded in support. Moments later, a public school teacher described students drawing swastikas on their art projects. When she intervened, she quickly discovered that many of her students had never knowingly met a Jew. They........

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