The night of Oct. 7 did not end when the news cycle moved on. It walked into Jewish homes. It sat at kitchen tables and hunted us into our sleep. It showed up in the way parents looked at their children the next morning.

Every Jewish parent I know had the same quiet calculation: What do I need to change so my child is safe?

That question is not political. It is biological. You protect what you love.

In New York City, where I live and work, the concern is not abstract. NYPD hate-crime reports have consistently shown that Jews make up the largest share of victims in reported incidents. In several recent months, anti-Jewish cases accounted for more than half of all hate crimes investigated citywide. Those are public statistics. They influence behavior whether we speak about them or not.

Behavior shifts slowly. A Magen David goes under the shirt. Hebrew lettering disappears from a backpack. A kippah is replaced with a hat on the train. Parents advise their children to avoid certain conversations on campus. Some of those adjustments are prudent. Some fear drifting into identity.

I teach Krav Maga in New York City. Teaching people to become a stronger version of themselves is my profession. I train my students to function under stress and choose peace when it’s optional. My work is about helping people understand their choices and create clarity.  How do we identify early signs when something goes wrong? When someone invades your space, do you respond decisively? When fear rises, does it paralyze you or sharpen you?

Over the past........

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