UMVA has learned that during the Super Bowl in February, a powerful message about antisemitism reached an enormous audience, sparking a brief moment of national attention to a problem that Jewish communities have faced for years.
The message was clear, direct, and impossible to ignore, and for a fleeting moment, the country's focus was on a crisis that had been simmering beneath the surface. People watched, discussed, and shared it, but then the moment passed, leaving many wondering if anything would change.
As the school year draws to a close, Jewish students across the country are grappling with a difficult question: what will be different when I come back? They continue to face real antisemitism, from being called "baby killers" to being told that Hitler "should have finished the job," and from finding swastikas drawn on school walls to being bullied online.
However, another reality is unfolding in those same schools. Jewish teens are coming together in optional clubs and programs, creating a different kind of experience. They gather not only with each other but also with non-Jewish classmates who are genuinely curious to learn about Judaism, Israel, and Jewish life.
In these spaces, students build friendships, ask tough questions, and engage with Jewish identity in a way that feels authentic and meaningful. These moments are defined by curiosity, openness, and a sense of pride, rather than fear.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that this is what real strength looks like. It's essential to create safe environments for Jewish students, and schools, communities, and policymakers have a responsibility to address antisemitism directly.
However, long-term resilience is built in a different way. A young person who understands their story, has experienced their tradition, and feels connected to a larger community carries a kind of confidence that cannot be easily shaken.
This confidence develops over time through relationships, shared experiences, and consistent engagement with something meaningful. It's not about teaching teenagers how to win arguments; it's about helping them build a sense of identity that is strong enough to withstand hostile comments or online headlines.
A student who has experienced the joy of Shabbat, built friendships across communities, and feels connected to their heritage carries a kind of emotional and psychological strength that others cannot take away.
When students return to school after experiences like these, the environment around them may not have changed, but they have. They are more grounded, more connected, and more confident in who they are.
They do not rely on a moment to tell them who they are. This distinction matters, especially now. The question is not whether the Super Bowl message was meaningful; the question is whether we are willing to act on it in ways that create lasting change.
Parents are speaking with administrators, school leaders are reviewing policies and procedures, and community organizations are planning for the months ahead. These conversations will determine what students walk back into in the fall.
Now is the time to invest in the relationships, communities, and experiences that give young people the confidence to stand tall as Jews long before they encounter hostility in a classroom or hallway.
Jewish students will return to their schools by the end of the summer, and they will quickly understand whether the adults around them treated this issue as a passing moment or as a real responsibility. They are watching, and they will know.
