Preserve the memory of your loved one with a plaque on our Yahrzeit Wall. Learn More ->

Search
Close this search box.

Facing the Antisemitism Inside of Me

A man walks alone at the sea
I face the antisemitism inside of me.
 
The use of the word “Jew” that makes it sound dirty,
the teasing of the only Jew on the football team,
the jokes I made and the jokes I laughed at.
The stories I believed,
the stories I told.
 
I learn each day
to reject false ideologies
or schools of thought
that promote a superiority of one over others.
 
I pray to a God of peace–
a God that doesn’t love us differently
based on what we believe
or who we love
and how we live.
 
But most of all
as I look first at the monster inside myself,
I wish we weren’t wired this way:
to spot differences instead of similarities.
 
When I go to my quiet place,
it’s a vision where love and abundance
are the guiding principles
and the word “war” doesn’t exist in our languages.
But there are many words for “peace”
and the darker sides of our nature
melt away under a divine light.
Facebook
Email

Ritualwell content is available for free thanks to the generous support of readers like you! Please help us continue to offer meaningful content with a donation today. 

Related Rituals

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Come together with the Ritualwell community on September 11th for a special hour dedicated to the Jewish values connected to pursuing justice. Registration for this event includes a special Resilience Boost package of curated resources of poetry and prayers to turn to for strength and support through election season 

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network