I Used to Be Embarrassed to Be Jewish

I remember feeling different. On weekends, my friends hung out—but I had Hebrew School. I felt forced and frustrated.

Then my parents saw an ad for Heritage Quest on Instagram.

“Do you want to go?” they asked. I wasn’t so sure, but I said yes.

At first, I was shy. But by the second week, something clicked: I realized I needed to choose to be proud of being Jewish.

At the Kotel, I felt something powerful. As I placed my note in the wall, I knew my prayers would be heard.

On the trip, I met others who felt like outcasts too—girls from secular schools who had been misunderstood. Someone once even asked me, “Are you a Chanukian?”

This year I started at a new school. I now feel proud to share what I did last summer. I volunteer at Hebrew School and go to local CTeen events. CTeen gave me amazing new friends and helped me fall in love with Judaism.

Jewish pride doesn’t just live at home—it’s wherever you go.