Within a 10-day period, recent attacks including the December 3rd incident at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown, the drive by shooting in Redlands, California on December 12th, the antisemitic terrorist attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney on December 13th, and the shooting at Brown University on December 13th highlight the urgent need for vigilance and collective action in Jewish communities everywhere.

These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a global pattern. And yet, Jews are still expected to contextualize our awareness, soften our language, and universalize our concerns before we are allowed to name what is happening.

Today, I went to the farmers market. I was chatting with a woman selling hummus when she casually asked me, “Are you Jewish?” That pause, the tightening in my chest, reminded me of the vigilance and awareness that comes with openly living as a Jew. I answered yes, and she smiled warmly, saying, “Happy Hanukkah.” Moments like this underscore both the challenges we face and the strength required to maintain visibility, connection, and pride in our identity.

Recently, I........

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