A Jewish Journey of Identity and Courage

“Everything’s ready in here,” I said, tapping my temple. “Good morning, everyone,” Shelly began, finally getting the session underway. “I truly hope you took some time to think about everything we discussed last time. Before we dive in, I’d like to show you a short video prepared by the JCC.”

Israel is home. It’s birthplace of my mother and my people.

Israel is the Jewish biblical homeland, It’s not just a land, it’s not just a nation. It’s the only place in the world where you can go And feel like you’re amongst your people. We are the people of Israel, no matter where we are, we are all Israel. We have a place to go, and we can defend ourselves. Israel means safety, knowing that we need to protect it too. “What do you think about what was said in the video? Does it align with what you wrote down when answering the question, ‘What is Israel to you?’” Emma immediately raised her hand. “I wrote that Israel for me is family because my parents’ families live there. But I agree with what they said in the video. Israel isn’t just another country on the map; it’s so much more.” The girl in the Taylor Swift shirt, whose name I couldn’t remember, chimed in. “My parents always say that if we don’t like it here, we have the option to immigrate to Israel.” “That’s true, Tammy,” Shelly replied. “Every Jew has the right to immigrate to Israel whenever they choose. This gives Jews around the world a sense of security. Israel not only protects Jews globally, as we discussed last time, but it also welcomes

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