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By Sue Littauer
According to the publisher’ s description, Kitty Zeldis, author of“ Not Our Kind” and“ The Dressmakers of Prospect Heights,” returns with“ a story of secrets, friendship and betrayal about two young women at Vassar
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in the years after World War II, a powerful and moving tale of prejudice and pride that echoes the cultural and social issues of today.”
“ One of Them” is the story of two Jewish college sophomores – Ann Bishop and Delia Goldhush. It takes place in 1946 just following the end of World War II. Both young women are forced to confront the prevalent antisemitism of the times, but each responds to it in very different ways.
Ann, who elects to go by her middle name rather than her first name, Miriam, finds it easier to hide her Judaism. She allows her friends to assume she is not Jewish, and endures the prejudicial references to Jews as well as the stereotypical comments made by
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the group of women with whom she chooses to align herself.
Delia, on the other hand, proudly displays her Judaism and thereby accepts her position as an outcast at school. She spends her time alone – sitting, studying and dining. Curious about Delia, Ann reaches out to her and soon they become friends.
After Delia is involved in a scandal, Ann is forced to choose sides, and she publicly aligns with the“ mean girls” to protect her own social standing. The fallout from this betrayal leads each girl on separate journeys to Europe, to Palestine and back to New York City.
As I read this novel, I found myself wondering how today’ s college students are navigating the rise in antisemitism on campuses across the country. According to the American Jewish Committee, studies indicate that some 42 % of Jewish college students have personally experienced campus antisemitism. As a result, over a third actively avoid displaying items that identify
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them as Jewish, and more than 40 % sometimes hide their Jewish identity altogether.
“ One of Them” was an excellent selection for our book club; it was discussed by the Center of Jewish Education this June. Many participants remembered the antisemitism they endured firsthand growing up – restricted country club memberships, university quota admissions, job application rejections, and more.
Eighty years after the events depicted in the novel, the antisemitism its characters confront remains uncomfortably familiar. Many groups have sought solutions to this problem. Hillel is providing safe spaces for Jewish college students across campuses, and they have hired professionals to strengthen relationships with university officials. They have invited student and faculty religious leaders to connect with one another to build understanding and find common ground.
As esteemed author Dara Horn has suggested, one of the
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most effective ways to address antisemitism is not only to share the stories of Holocaust survivors, but also to teach what Judaism is. Let us support our rabbis and educators as they help others better understand Jewish life, traditions and values. After all, it is difficult to understand a people if you do not first understand who they are.
The next CJE Book Club will meet at 10:30 a. m. on Aug. 12 in Room A110 at Shalom Park, where participants will discuss“ Counting Backwards” by Jacqueline Friedland. All of the books featured in this year’ s selections are available at the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library.
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By Jessica Goldfarb In Judaism, learning is a lifelong responsibility, a sacred tradition, and a gift we are called to share with others.
One of the most recognizable Hebrew words is lilmod( ללמוד), meaning to learn. From our earliest days in Jewish life, learning is woven into who we are. We study Torah, history, traditions, language, and values, not simply to gain knowledge, but to better understand ourselves, our community, and our place in the
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world. What makes lilmod especially meaningful is its Hebrew root: ל-מ-ד( lamed-mem-dalet). Hebrew roots often connect words that share a deeper idea, and this one gives us more than just“ to learn.” It is also the root of lelamed( ללמד), to teach. Often, when we step into the role of teacher, we discover that we end up learning just as much ourselves.
In Judaism, learning and teaching are inseparable. Every
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lesson we receive carries with it the responsibility to pass it on. Knowledge is not meant to be kept for ourselves. It grows stronger when it is shared, discussed, questioned, and lived. This idea has shaped Jewish life for thousands of years; that every generation builds on the wisdom of those before them, while preparing the next generation to carry that wisdom forward.
As another school year begins, lilmod reminds us that education extends far beyond the classroom
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. Every camp experience, youth program, Israel trip, leadership initiative, adult education class, and meaningful Jewish conversation becomes another opportunity to learn and to teach.
That cycle is one of the greatest strengths of our community. Today’ s learners become tomorrow’ s leaders. Today’ s students become tomorrow’ s mentors.
Every investment in Jewish education helps ensure that our traditions, values, and stories continue to thrive for generations
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to come.
Learning has always been one of Judaism’ s greatest acts of hope. Every time we choose to learn, we are preparing to teach. And every time we teach, we help write the next chapter of our shared Jewish story.
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