By Katie Grossman
Throughout high school, I’ve always had an urge to become closer to my Jewish identity. I started participating in NCSY events on Monday nights to immerse myself in the Jewish community.
Yet, I was still ashamed of certain aspects of my Jewishness.
When I looked in the mirror or saw my side profile, I was ashamed of how big and long my nose was. I always wanted to change it to fit societal norms.
One weekend, I went to a restaurant in Towson. As I waited to be seated, a man approached and asked, “Are you Jewish?” I thought to myself, “How does he know? My Jewish star is in my shirt because of the heightened antisemitism around me.”
After responding yes, he told me he could tell because of my nose. In that moment, the fragile pride I’d been building in my Jewish identity shrank.
Later that week, while still upset from this incident, I talked to my mentor, Nicole Shapiro, at NCSY’s Senator Ben Cardin Jewish Scholars Program. She explained something to me that would change my perspective on Judaism.
She said she dislikes the custom of wearing long skirts. But the one thing she loves is the feeling she gets from being part of something. She compared it to playing on a sports team, wearing a jersey and having people around you know you’re part of something great.
She then compared it to the situation with my nose and told me to use this as a compliment, as it is a physical representation of the strength of the Jewish people at this time.
After that week, I was determined to find a way to stop antisemitism from spreading in the community. I talked with my sister, who attends the University of Florida, to brainstorm ways I could help as tensions in the Middle East escalated. She told me about a program that UF Hillel created with a pledge called Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate®. It contains a pledge that combats all forms of hatred on college campuses.
I reached out to the head of this organization and asked if I could bring the concept to my local community. Eagerly, she said yes, and I would now be the first high school student to start this program regionally.
I’m currently a junior attending Roland Park Country School and in the minority as a Jewish student there. Drawing on my experience and leadership in my school’s Student Diversity Association (Student Government & Politics), I recently offered students the opportunity to sign a pledge to stop spreading hate in exchange for a bagel during the observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day at my school.
With this simple act of agreement, I hope to create a society where Jewish people are not seen negatively. I now know that my nose is not a weakness but something that shows I’m part of something great.
Katie Grossman is a junior at Roland Park Country School and a participant of Jmore’s Amplify: The Jewish Media Project program.
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