A Jewish Journey of Identity and Courage

Chapter 6 Emma

Olivia sat down beside me in the cafeteria and placed her tray on the table. “Want to come over Saturday? We’re making breakfast on Sunday—well, brunch, depending on when we get up.” She giggled, recalling the last time I slept over when we didn’t wake up until noon, and my mom was worried because I hadn’t answered her calls all morning. “I can’t,” I said, feeling a twinge of disappointment. “Remember the workshop I signed up for at the JCC? It’s on Sunday mornings.” “Oh, I forgot! How is it? Is it as boring as it sounds?” Olivia sipped her drink, the straw making a noise at the bottom of the can. “It’s actually pretty interesting. It’s made me think about a lot of things,” I admitted. At least I could speak freely with Olivia; she always accepted me just as I was. I didn’t know what I’d do without her. “Like what?” Olivia asked, genuinely curious. “About my relationship with Judaism. About Israel. Did you know that many young Jewish people go to serve in the IDF after graduating high school?” “Really?!” Olivia’s eyes widened. “What about college?” “They postpone college for a few years, and some even stay in Israel,” I explained, feeling a swell of pride. “Almost everyone in Israel goes to university after their military service.” Olivia stared at me. “They’d rather stay in the desert than come back to the U.S.?” I sighed. “Israel isn’t just a desert; it’s a modern country.” I pulled out my phone and showed her Instagram reels of Tel Aviv, from its beaches to its sleek office buildings. “Sure, there are ancient sites like Jerusalem and Jaffa, but other areas are completely contemporary. Think about how all of this was built

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