Being Jewish and young in the twenty-first century is a spectacular thing. Jews have become a part of the cultural vernacular since I was a young woman in ways I never would have dreamed of. Judaism is more widely discussed and more prominent in the arts, media, and politics. Jewish-themed TV shows and films have witnessed an explosion. International attention is being given to aspects of Jewish life previously unexplored. Gal Gadot is everyone’s sweetheart. Fauda and The Band’s Visit have captivated a global media market. This is a new Golden Age.
But being Jewish and young at this time is not without complexity and tension. An emphasis on distancing oneself from traditional Judaism in many circles and even on detaching from the politics of our historical homeland has made for a potentially fractured sense of community among young people. Racism still rears its ugly head. Bigotry abounds. And in a country deeply divided by politics, Jewish identity is up for grabs.
The collection of stories you hold in your hands is an antidote to this divisiveness. A girl wrestles with being Jewish enough when she joins her more observant boyfriend’s family for Shabbat dinner. At space camp, two boys search for God among the stars. An Orthodox girl navigates unfamiliar territory at college orientation. These varied stories of faith and love and youth are a solution to a problem we may not yet fully understand. The notion that young Jews feel a need to attach to a Judaism that is fractured is important. The feelings many young Jews may be having about where they fit in are real. Jews of all backgrounds need to find a common ground where we all can stand together. This anthology is that common ground.
Judaism is not about choosing things you always agree with in your religion and clinging to them. Judaism is about seeing the world for what it is and being part of a community that is greater than the sum of its parts. The beauty of the Jewish experience is in its ability to adapt, and its enduring principles of faith, understanding, and acceptance.
There are so many ways to live a Jewish life and to feel Jewish. Growing up Jewish was, for me, a wonderful thing. I loved my cultural identity, I embraced the structures of Jewish learning, and I resonated deeply with the connection I felt to Israel and to my fellow Jews. I was raised in a climate aware of the uniqueness of Jews and simultaneously supportive of Jews fitting into the world in ways that allowed us the freedoms many of our parents and grandparents did not have the privilege of enjoying.
This book speaks to a larger vision of a Judaism that is engaging, open, and wise. Young people, especially, should take note of their awareness shifting as they explore the stories here. There is no “right” way to live, think, or be. What unites us all is our desire to fit in, to stand out, and to lean in to what has sustained the Jewish people for thousands of years.
Read on and find your place among those of us who are proudly and undeniably lost as wanderers of a nation that was once a stranger—and simultaneously find your place among those of us who have put in the hard work and discovered new ways to be found.