Yitzhak ben Moshe, Editor/Reporter, New Mexico 

Are Public Displays of Judaism a Bad Idea? We are going to be sharing a video from Chabad.org. Before that, however, we took a poll and solicited comments. Here are some of the thoughts we received via X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.

“I always let it be seen I am Jewish,” said Monica. “From October 7th I want the world to know I am Jewish, and scream Am Yisrael Chai.”

One comment, from a resident of New York says they are now afraid to be seen publicly as a Jew. “We have had other, others form here and other parts of the city, attacked for being Jewish. I go out but stay now in my neighborhood.”

He says that in his community, where everyone dresses the same, it’s better, safer. Outside of his community, the fear is too great. 

“I survived the worst the Nazi’s poured upon us,” says Ruth. “The evil of this world has come for us many times. This, what this is today, is worse that than Nazi Germany before the ghettos and camps. I am Jewish and they will know it.”

The overall responses we received was overwhelmingly along the lines of be a Jew and show the world you are a Jew.

Since 7 October I have been becoming more frum. I am adding more and more to my daily practice. I now wear a kippah and Tzitzit each day. I think it’s time that we return to our own communities, and look/act overwhelmingly Jewish. That, however, is just my opinion.

The following video is from Rabbi Ari Shishler, the director of Chabad of Strathavon, South Africa. It’s worth watching.