Jewish teens are affected by antisemitism

It is crazy to hear from people around me about their experiences and brushes with antisemitism, even living in such a prominently Jewish area. I was at a BBYO (a Jewish teen movement group) event, and we were going around in a circle talking about our experiences, and it’s crazy to me that a group of people in this area, a place where everyone can connect through “Jewish geography,” can still experience this hatred and prejudice from other people.

This program was truly impactful because not one person in the entire circle kept quiet, everybody had something to say. One person, in particular, shared a story about her old school in a much less ‘Jewish’ area. In school, a classmate had come up to her and said “get back in the gas”. When those words were said, I could almost hear the jaws dropping to the floor. People just don’t realize how much of an everyday issue and life experience this is for the Jewish people, and children no less.