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Be Well
May was Jewish American Heritage month, Asian American Heritage month, National Bike month, National Asparagus month, National Miniature Garden month, amongst many, many others. It was also National Mental Health Awareness month.
We all know how difficult a year it's been for Jewish college students. What we don't see reported very much is how difficult it has also been for many elementary, middle, and high school Jewish students. Sadly, most of us know through personal experience that it's hard to get through school without hearing at least one, but typically many more, overtly anti-Semitic remarks from either our peers or a teacher. I certainly remember my first time! It's typically downplayed, excused, or ignored all together.
There has always been a level societal tacit acceptance of this phenomenon, though since October 7th it has never been more pervasive, intense, or tolerated. I have heard our local Jewish youth describe so many upsetting incidents of anti-Jewish jokes, slurs, and sometimes direct intimidation that they've experienced over this past school year. Not only do our Jewish youth need more support from the schools and the community at large, they also need one another more than ever. Be there for each other.
It's also important for our youth to know that there are always resources out there that they can turn to when it seems they are alone and that no one they turn to really cares or understands. Many of you reading this know firsthand the casual dismissal that reporting such incidents to school administration elicits.
In honor of National Mental Health Awareness month, below I have listed some resources specifically for Jewish youth to know that they are never alone and that there are always people out there who understand their experiences and who'll listen. Even when we can't do much about the way others talk about us, think about us, or treat us...we can certainly do something about the way we support ourselves and each other.
https://www.kveller.com/how-to-handle-antisemitic-incidents-at-school/
https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2897410/talk-antisemitism-kidsall-ages/
https://www.jewishtogether.org/bewell
https://www.jewishedproject.org/mental-health-resources-teens-familiesnational
