A week has passed since election day.
asserted
week → pass → day
The votes have been counted.
asserted
votes → count → ?
But no election can decide how proudly we live as Jews, how we support one another or what kind of leaders we become.
asserted
we → decide → leaders
Those decisions belong to us.
asserted
decisions → belong → us
As the former student body president at the University of California, Santa Barbara, I know what it means to lead while your Jewish identity becomes a target.
asserted
identity → know → what
My experience, featured in the documentary "October 8," taught me how urgently institutions need to confront antisemitism — and how much courage it can take to speak up when they fail.
asserted
they → feature → courage
It also taught me that we cannot put our lives or our leadership on hold until someone else finds that courage.
asserted
someone → teach → courage
Recently at the Jewish Student Union Presidents Conference in Stamford, Connecticut, I saw hundreds of Jewish high school students putting that principle into practice.
asserted
hundreds → see → practice
They had gathered as the country headed into Election Day.
asserted
country → gather → Day
But their leadership did not depend on who would win.
asserted
who → depend → ?
They were already building Jewish communities in their schools.
asserted
They → build → schools
I recognized myself in them.
asserted
I → recognize → them
Before I became a student body president, I needed opportunities to understand my Jewish identity, develop my voice and discover that I had something worth contributing.
asserted
I → become → something
Returning to speak with these students reminded me why that early investment matters.
asserted
investment → return → me
Leadership grows through practice: inviting someone to a first meeting, organizing a program, asking a difficult question or standing beside a classmate who feels alone.
asserted
who → grow → classmate
Those actions can seem small.
asserted
actions → seem → ?
For the person on the receiving end, they can change everything.
asserted
they → receive → everything
Too often, we talk about young Jews only in terms of what is happening to them.
asserted
what → talk → them
The harassment they face.
asserted
they → face → ?
The friendships they lose.
asserted
they → lose → ?
The pressure they feel to distance themselves from Israel or explain away a part of who they are.
asserted
they → feel → part
Those experiences deserve attention.
asserted
experiences → deserve → attention
Antisemitism must be exposed and confronted.
asserted
Antisemitism → expose → ?
But young Jews also deserve to be seen for what they are creating.
asserted
they → deserve → what
In Stamford, I saw students developing the skills and relationships that will shape their schools now and their college campuses later.
asserted
that → see → schools
They were learning to lead before a crisis demanded it of them.
asserted
crisis → learn → them
That preparation matters.
asserted
preparation → matter → ?
A strong Jewish identity gives us something to draw on when others challenge our belonging.
asserted
others → give → belonging
A community gives us people to turn to.
asserted
community → give → people
The experience of speaking up once can help us do it again.
asserted
us → speak → it
We should be giving more young Jews those opportunities.
asserted
We → give → opportunities
We should also make room for the joy that makes Jewish life worth building in the first place.
asserted
life → make → place
A student who encounters the Jewish community through music, sports or a celebration may discover a connection that a discussion about antisemitism could never provide.
uncertain
discussion → encounter → antisemitism
Those experiences give us friendships, memories and reasons to keep showing up for one another.
asserted
experiences → give → one
Last week’s Omer Adam concert at Barclays Center offered a powerful example: thousands of people gathering around Hebrew music, Jewish pride and a shared connection to Israel.
asserted
concert → offer → Israel
Among those celebrating were wounded Israeli warriors.
asserted
warriors → celebrate → those
Their presence brought another dimension to that joy: the opportunity to stand alongside people who have sacrificed so much and welcome them into a shared celebration.
asserted
who → bring → celebration
That is why I want to thank Warriors of Israel, which supports Israel’s wounded warriors.
asserted
which → want → warriors
Its work reminds us that building Jewish community means taking responsibility for one another, including helping those living with the consequences of their service find support, connection and joy.
asserted
those → remind → support
We can build communities that celebrate who we are while making sure people who need us feel included and supported.
asserted
who → build → us
…and 16 more, not listed.
The Aporia
