Teaching Your Children What It Means to Be a Jew Today: 5 Points

As the freed hostages begin to tell their stories of the darkness and fear during their endless months of captivity, the one common anchor that helped all of them survive was their Jewish identity. The hostages held onto Shabbat even when they had never kept it before. They learned to say blessings over food from overhearing someone say them on an Israeli radio station. They recited and held onto prayers they had not said since childhood.

During the most challenging and uncertain circumstances of their lives, they found solace in holding onto their Judaism. They found light and felt God’s presence even in the darkest of tunnels. Their inspiring journeys can help you teach your children what it means to be a Jew today.

1. You are not alone.

It can feel lonely to be in a class or on a team when you feel like you are the only Jew in the room. And you don’t know if you will be ostracized or ignored because of your faith. But you are never really alone.

You have a support system of family and community even if they are not in the room with you, they are there for you. Whenever any Jew is hurting, there are Jews across the world that pray and offer whatever help they can. Many of the hostages spoke about how they could feel the prayers of Jewish people all over the world holding them and protecting them. You too are never alone.

2. You come from royalty.

Your forefathers are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Your mothers are Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah. You come from a long line of royalty and leadership. This heritage is a gift that every Jewish child is given, but it is also a responsibility. You are carrying on a precious legacy from your ancestors that has been passed down for many generations.

Hold your head high. Be a leader. Know your roots. They will connect you when you feel lost. They will give you the strength to grow.

3. You are needed.

You have unique strengths and ideas to contribute to the Jewish people. There is no one else that has the blueprint of your soul or the contours of your experiences. The Jewish nation needs your talent and your voice.

It may feel sometimes like you are just another nameless person lost in the crowd, but you are not. There is so much that you can give that no one else can. You are a treasure for your people, and you are always needed.

4. You have a guide for life.

Judaism gives you a complete guide for how to live with core values such as kindness, courage and justice. The Torah is filled with both role models and people who have struggled with challenges that they overcame by holding onto their values and faith. Your religion is full of beautiful, sacred rituals that give meaning to both your daily life and to the seasons of the year.

You have access to a timeless guide that teaches you life-affirming values and ideas that help you to grow and thrive.

5. You can learn more every day.

It may seem like you know all that you need to know about Judaism, but there is so much more for you to learn. There are myriad sources of wisdom and ideas that will help you form and shape your own Jewish identity. There are many classes you can listen to online, and people you can reach out to who can help you on your journey. No matter how much you know, you can learn and grow more every day.

When the hostages came home, their families asked them what they most wanted to do or have now that they were free. So many of them asked for things we take for granted as Jews today. They asked for a prayer book. They asked for Shabbat candlesticks. They asked for a kiddush cup and a quiet family meal.

When they were in the darkest of tunnels, they reached out for the light of their Judaism, and when they emerged, they held tenaciously onto that light.

You can teach your children the gift of what it means to be a Jew today so that they, too, will always have a light to show them a way forward, no matter where they are.

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