October 12 — Note to Subscribers

It's been a minute since I last reached out through this wildly irregular newsletter to share media opportunities. Admittedly, my mental health hasn't been great since the last time I shared leads here, compounded by the heavy weight of the Israel-Gaza war. I appreciate your patience.

The weight of recent events, particularly the loss of innocent lives, has left me utterly speechless. My college trip to Israel through Birthright is one of my most cherished memories, making this situation even more emotionally charged. I am acutely conscious of the divisive atmosphere on social media, and irrespective of your stance, I hope we can all, at the very least, pray for peace.

As an adult, being Jewish has taken on a new significance, a shared experience lacking in my earlier years. I spent my grade school years as the only Jewish girl in my public school system, which became a defining characteristic, particularly in sixth grade, when my history teacher publicly announced my Jewishness, tasking me with leading a Hebrew lesson to the entire class. 

That laid the foundation for episodes of antisemitism that are etched in my memory. After a disagreement over a boy, a high school friend who stood by me at my Bat Mitzvah branded me a "Jew bitch" on Tumblr. In a gathering with former friends, someone insensitively implied that my unease around fire might be connected to... the Holocaust.

In high school, my first boyfriend showed keen interest in my Jewishness. Cut to recently, his brother was arrested for arming himself with a machine gun, with Nazi flags found in his home. My ex-boyfriend (whom I remembered as well-loved, funny, and kind) was reportedly complicit in his brother's plans. I learned this via the Providence Journal the night before my wedding day.

I name these instances because I know it's a shared experience of Jewish people to be afraid, feel alone, and experience antisemitism, perhaps even at the hands of the people you'd least expect. With that said, I'm here for anyone who would like to talk right now or, at the very least, would like a distraction from the painful news cycle or a break from doom-scrolling on social media. 

I pray for peace. As you keep everyone in your thoughts, consider reaching out to your Jewish friends and loved ones — or, at the very least, take a moment out of your day for them. Like me, they've likely experienced antisemitism and are hurting. While I can't speak to the Palestinian experience, I kindly ask you to do the same for them.