Elul is the Hebrew month preceding the High Holy Days. There are many traditions observed during this month including making time for personal self reflection, study and awareness of our actions towards others. This year's Elevating Elul series includes the reflections and voices of our congregants to help us come together as a community and prepare for the new year.
Facing acts of antisemitism is, sadly, a common shared experience amongst Jewish people worldwide. In the Elevating Elul piece below, BA member Barb Opinsky shares and early time in her life when she faced antisemitism, and although she's never forgotten this moment, she continues to stand proud to be Jewish.
Proud to be a Jew in the Face of Antisemitism By: Barb Opinsky
I came from a town of about 35 thousand people in upstate New York. This happened in 1958 and there were about 100 Jews there then.
Most of the Jews owned the businesses in town so people knew who we were. I was a junior in high school when I entered a big speech contest. The winner would receive the most important drama prize of the year.
I decided to take the play, The Diary of Anne Frank,and perform a twenty minute reading of it. I worked very hard on it while the other contestants just used readings that had already been done.
The night came and I did not win first nor second prize. I was devestated. That Monday, our principal called me in his office and told me that the reason I didn't win was because one of the judges was antisemetic. He apologized and, when I graduated, he gave me the drama award.
I have always been proud to be a Jew and I will always let everyone around me know what I stand for.
