We are Jewish teens. And we refuse to be defined by antisemitism.

Yes, we see the hate. We hear the stereotypes. We feel the pressure of rising antisemitism—in our schools, in our DMs, in the media, and sometimes even in our friendships. But we’re not hiding. We’re not backing down. We’re standing up. 

Being Jewish isn’t just a part of who we are—it’s our strength. Our story. Our community. Our joy. We won’t let the world shrink us to a headline, a rumor, a slur, or a misunderstanding.

Let’s be clear: Antisemitism is real.
 It’s not “just a joke.”
 It’s not “just political.”
 It’s not just swastikas on walls or hate in the news.
 It’s when people make assumptions about us based on our identity.
 It’s when our pain is minimized or questioned.
 It’s when we’re told we don’t count in conversations about justice.
 It’s when we’re made to feel like we have to choose between being Jewish and being accepted.

What antisemitism isn’t:
 It’s not just “the past.” It didn’t end with the Holocaust or history class.
 It’s not a competition with other forms of hate—there’s room to fight it all.
 And it’s not up to anyone else to tell us when it matters. We decide that.

We are not victims—we are voices.
 And we’re using them.

We are Jewish. And that means so many things: resilience, culture, tradition, music, questions, food, family, Shabbat dinners, holidays that make us laugh and think and cry. It means we come from generations who survived, who dreamed, who created—and we’re still here doing all of that and more - for ourselves and for the generations who will come after us.

So here’s our message: Listen to us.
 We are showing up with honesty, pride, and power. We know who we are.
 We will not be defined by hatred.
 We define ourselves.

Sign on and share your story.

Share your story here https://padlet.com/ericacohen1/voices-not-victims-teen-stories-ev9gpubups5aig3i