A Jewish Journey of Identity and Courage

“Maybe we could provide them with real information?” Tamar suggested. “Help them understand the truth.” “That’s an excellent idea!” Shelly beamed. “Any other thoughts?” I raised my hand, and everyone turned to look at me. “A few days ago, I talked to a friend who thought Israel was just a desert.” A few chuckles echoed, and I noticed Tamir nodding in recognition. “I thought about giving a presentation in class about Israel—explaining why it was founded as a national home for the Jews and showing them pictures.” “Great idea, Emma! You could even include Israeli inventions that are used worldwide, like Waze or the USB flash drive,” Shelly encouraged. “Or cherry tomatoes, even though I hate tomatoes,” Danielle added, laughing. “Thanks!” I replied, feeling a surge of pride. I was thrilled that Shelly liked my idea. Do you know of any other Israeli inventions? After the session ended, I stood outside the JCC, waiting for my dad. David was next to me, alternating between staring at his phone screen and glancing down the road. I always felt shorter standing next to him, even though I was just an average height for my age. “Is someone picking you up?” I asked, glancing over at him. “Yes. My mom should be here any minute,” David replied, still focused on his phone. “Do your parents know about what’s going on? About the reels?” I noticed he seemed to be avoiding my gaze. “Not really,” he said. “I don’t want them to meddle in this.” I didn’t understand why David was so hesitant to let his parents

35