Michelle's Story
I was born in Phoenix, Arizona to two amazing parents. I grew up in a Jewish household. I went to a Jewish preschool, attended Hebrew School, attended Hebrew High, and even volunteered as a teacher's assistant at my Hebrew School. I celebrated when I became a Bat Mitzvah and three years later rejoiced when my brother become a Bar Mitzvah. I have always loved celebrating the holidays with my family, eating latkahs, apples and honey, and my favorite, charosett.
I was lucky enough to be a part of USY during middle and high school and even attend a life-changing experience of USY on wheels, Pacific Northwest edition. There, I got to meet other Jewish teenagers from all across the country and create lasting friendships with many. It was through them that I was able to add many of the stories shared on this website. So thank you to my PNW family. Even though we only met about a year or so ago, I feel as though I have known many of you for my entire life.
Although I attend a secular school, the Jewish religion has always been a huge part of my life. I know it might sound silly, but I have found that there is often a special connection between people who are Jewish. Just last week, at the camp I am teaching at, one of my students saw the Magen David necklace I was wearing. She asked, "are you Jewish?" To which I replied, "why, yes I am." She turned and gave me a big smile and said, "so am I." A few days later, I saw the same little girl again in the cafeteria. She ran up to me and exclaimed, "guess what? Jessie is Jewish too!" Although this was the only conversation I have had with this girl, we established a connection with one another. A connection that exists solely because of the shape of the necklaces her counselors were wearing, and what that shape means to all of us.
When I visited Princeton University--the school I will be attending in the fall--I was so excited to see that I will no longer be one of a handful of Jewish students at my school. Now, on the high holy days when I have to miss class, I will be among many of my peers, something I have never experienced. And to make things even better, the Center For Jewish Life (CJL) is a large part of the campus, complete with its own dining hall, which holds Shabbat dinners every Friday night. So even though I will be far from home next year, I will have my home away from home.
My grandmother is a survivor of the Holocaust. She has rarely mentioned her experiences in Germany, but when she does, I am captivated by her story. It is truly unfortunate that so many people had to suffer like she did. Why is it that our world cannot learn from the mistakes of the past? Too often, people are dying because of their skin color, religion, or belief system. These people did nothing other than live life the way they wanted to, and yet, they suffered because of it. I hope this website educates you about the horrors of reality and inspires you to be a part of the change that will prevent things such as this from ever happening again.
I know that my life is constantly changing. Today, I hope to become a marine biologist and study climate change and the ocean's ecosystems. Tomorrow, I might decide to do something else. But no matter what I do, or where I go, I will always remember the song by Rabbi Larry Milder states, "wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish."
Michelle. Personal Interview. 18 Apr. 2014.
I was lucky enough to be a part of USY during middle and high school and even attend a life-changing experience of USY on wheels, Pacific Northwest edition. There, I got to meet other Jewish teenagers from all across the country and create lasting friendships with many. It was through them that I was able to add many of the stories shared on this website. So thank you to my PNW family. Even though we only met about a year or so ago, I feel as though I have known many of you for my entire life.
Although I attend a secular school, the Jewish religion has always been a huge part of my life. I know it might sound silly, but I have found that there is often a special connection between people who are Jewish. Just last week, at the camp I am teaching at, one of my students saw the Magen David necklace I was wearing. She asked, "are you Jewish?" To which I replied, "why, yes I am." She turned and gave me a big smile and said, "so am I." A few days later, I saw the same little girl again in the cafeteria. She ran up to me and exclaimed, "guess what? Jessie is Jewish too!" Although this was the only conversation I have had with this girl, we established a connection with one another. A connection that exists solely because of the shape of the necklaces her counselors were wearing, and what that shape means to all of us.
When I visited Princeton University--the school I will be attending in the fall--I was so excited to see that I will no longer be one of a handful of Jewish students at my school. Now, on the high holy days when I have to miss class, I will be among many of my peers, something I have never experienced. And to make things even better, the Center For Jewish Life (CJL) is a large part of the campus, complete with its own dining hall, which holds Shabbat dinners every Friday night. So even though I will be far from home next year, I will have my home away from home.
My grandmother is a survivor of the Holocaust. She has rarely mentioned her experiences in Germany, but when she does, I am captivated by her story. It is truly unfortunate that so many people had to suffer like she did. Why is it that our world cannot learn from the mistakes of the past? Too often, people are dying because of their skin color, religion, or belief system. These people did nothing other than live life the way they wanted to, and yet, they suffered because of it. I hope this website educates you about the horrors of reality and inspires you to be a part of the change that will prevent things such as this from ever happening again.
I know that my life is constantly changing. Today, I hope to become a marine biologist and study climate change and the ocean's ecosystems. Tomorrow, I might decide to do something else. But no matter what I do, or where I go, I will always remember the song by Rabbi Larry Milder states, "wherever you go, there's always someone Jewish."
Michelle. Personal Interview. 18 Apr. 2014.
Wherever you go there's always someone Jewish
You're never alone when you say you're a Jew
So when you're not home
And you're somewhere kind of 'newish'
The odds are--don't look far--
'Cause they're Jewish, too.
Some Jews live in tents and some live in pagodas
And some Jews pay rent 'cause the city's not free
Some Jews live on farms in the hills of Minnesota
And some Jews wear no shoes and sleep by the sea.
Amsterdam, Disneyland, Tel-Aviv---
Oh, they're miles apart
But when we light the candles on Sabbath eve
We share in the prayer in each one of our hearts
And some Jews wear hats
And some Jews wear sombreros
And some wear k'fiahs to keep out the sun
Some Jews live on rice, and some live on potatoes
Or waffles, felafels, or hamburger buns.
Amsterdam, Disneyland, Tel-Aviv---
Oh, they're miles apart
But when we light the candles on Sabbath eve
We share in the prayer in each one of our hearts.
Wherever you go there's always someone Jewish
You're never alone when you say you're a Jew
So when you're not home
And you're somewhere kind of 'newish'
The odds are--don't look far--
'Cause they're Jewish, too.
The odds are--don't look far---
They're Jews just like you.
Written by Larry Milder