I Am the Product of the Women Before Me

“Is that what I think it is?” I said as I began to tear up. My mother was holding the one thing I had wanted the most for my sixteenth birthday: My great-grandmother’s Star of David necklace. 

When I had my b’nai mitzvah in 2021 with my twin brother, my mother let me wear the necklace, because it was “a special occasion.” So, of course, I wanted to keep the necklace, since I already had it on. I wanted something that represented the women who came before me and my Jewish identity. I also wanted it because it was pretty. It had a diamond in the center of the star, and was small and simple. At the time, it was something I believed was appropriate for a girl my age.

As the next three years went on, I started understanding why my mom kept saying I could have it once I got older. 

When my mom was little, she was given the necklace from her grandma, my great-grandmother, to wear so she could express her Jewish identity. Of course, I wanted to do the same, even though I didn’t know anything about any of these women, nor what it meant to them. I didn’t even have a reason to be proud of my own Jewish identity. Wearing a symbol of my faith would show people that I was Jewish. There isn’t one specific way to “look” Jewish, even though there have been stereotypes developed telling us otherwise. I am a Conservative Jew, and typically, Conservative Jews tend to stray away from what’s known as “traditional” Orthodox clothing. People don’t think I look Jewish, because I don’t fit into their preconceived stereotypes. Wearing a Star of David would show people who I was, even if I don't look like what a Jewish woman is “meant” to look like. In the end, I was happy to be Jewish and a woman; I was happy to be raised with the same loving values that my mother was raised with. I just didn’t know where they came from, or why. 

My great-grandmother on my mom’s side is a second-generation American. She was born in the early 1900s to Polish immigrants, and later married a Russian immigrant in the 1930s. They lived in New York, had two daughters: my grandmother and my great-aunt. 

These two women had a prominent role in my mom’s life, and would eventually have a role in mine as well. My great-grandmother would take care of my mom and uncle when they were growing up, and they celebrated almost every single holiday together. Nowadays, my grandmother is a strong woman who makes sure her voice is heard in every situation, no matter what others think. This is all due to my great-grandmother having one of the most important jobs, though she did not work: being a strong woman. She was a housewife, mother, and role model in her home. She took care of her family, made sure everyone was happy, and most of all, made sure that she was happy as well. She watched her favorite shows, ate her favorite foods, and had an amazing family that loved her as much as she loved them. 

My great-grandmother made sure people knew right from wrong and was not afraid to voice her opinion, especially if she knew it would make a difference in someone’s life. An example of this is the joy she felt watching Fantasy Island, always singing along and quoting her favorite lines. This experience influenced my mom, who still tells that story today. My mother is the most excitable, fun-loving person I know. My great-grandmother made sure her children and grandchildren had proper manners and made sure that, like her, they weren’t afraid to speak up. When I was first learning about my great-grandmother, I just thought it was cool that we had the same second name. But as I got older, I realized that I was related to someone amazing. My great-grandmother loved her family and her life. She had an incredible husband, kids, and embraced her very prominent Jewish community on the West Side of New York City.

Just like my great-grandmother, grandmother, and mom, I try to advocate for people and voice my opinions every day. Ever since I was little, I knew what it meant to stand up for women’s rights and the Jewish people. I have always been proud of who I am, and I will continue to advocate for people, no matter who they are. 

The place I do that the most is at my school. Living in Texas, I am one of three Jewish kids in my grade. I make sure everyone I meet knows I’m Jewish and that I am proud of who I am. The women in my family do the same. My great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother are, and were all women who are not afraid to show who they are and what they stand for. For example, my grandmother will make sure I know what she believes in, no matter what the situation is. At every family event, we hear about political opinions and how much she loves what we’re wearing. That’s part of her charm, and that may be what I’m doing in school, how I’m acting, or even in political situations. I voice my opinions, and I don’t mind if someone disagrees. I want them to understand what my roots are, and I want them to understand why I wear the Star of David.

The Star of David is now my necklace. I never take it off, unless I absolutely have to, and I always give people a quick backstory when they compliment it. I am proud of who I am and where I come from. I want the action of me wearing her necklace to be the one that demonstrates my pride without explicitly saying so. After having worn the necklace for a little over a year now, I can say that I’ve become closer to the women in my family who came before me. I am happy to share with people why a Jewish woman has inspired how I live every day, and why I choose to represent that part of me. I make sure the necklace stands out, purposely wearing shirts in a certain way, just so it can be seen.