Jewish identity is not always loud. 

It does not have to be loud to be present, or physically visible to others, for it to be real. Jewish identity means something different to everyone, and everyone has different levels at which they wish to express it. For most Jewish teens, it is lighting the candles on Shabbat evenings, cooking holiday meals, and having a sense of familiarity with songs that we’re not even aware we know, that is what makes us Jewish.

Oftentimes, the world expects us to project our identities, ensuring that everyone around us knows who we are and what values we stand for. However, Jewish identity shouldn’t be something that needs to be explained, defended, or articulated to others; Jewish identity simply is. It is often the foods we crave, the phrases we hear around the house and around our local Jewish communities, or having a connection to a place hours away from home, but simultaneously recognizing that that too is your home. 

There is something powerful about Judaism, as it doesn’t have to be performed by volume or visibility in order to be strong. It doesn’t disappear if not explained correctly. It doesn’t disappear because you aren’t as involved in your synagogue and community. It is often integrated into our schedules, into our lives, and into our world, whether we notice it or not. 

Jewish identity is always evolving. It is embracing the power of individuality, but allowing yourself to find comfort in others in your community to grow and learn from them. It is something personal rather than performative, something lived rather than actively displayed and showcased in front of an audience. It will always continue to grow and change, but never will it need to be explained. 

Jewish identity is not always performed. Jewish identity is not always explained. Jewish identity is often simply lived: steadily, quietly, and most importantly, unapologetically. 

And that is something worth celebrating.