Editor's note: Two weeks ago, on Friday night, January 13, Chloe Presti was the Student Speaker at Chabad. The following is a transcript of her speech.
In 1911, a young woman named Molly Rothstein was born.
Molly's mother Ester like many other Jewish mothers of Russian decent, returned to Russia from America to introduce Molly to the family. Tragically at this time: hatred, discrimination, vulgarity, and war broke out. Molly and Ester were stuck in Russia in hiding. They had little to eat, little to drink, little hope and much to pray for. Running in fear (carrying nothing but her baby girl and her passed down silver shabbas candle sticks), Ester had been shot in the leg. In order to stay in hiding Ester had done things she never spoke of.
After 12 years, Molly and her mother made it back to America. Where Ester's husband had been waiting and praying faithfully. Soon after, they conceived Leon Rothstein. My grandfather. Judaism has played a huge roll in my family and in my life. The appreciation my family has for Judaisms and God is astronomical.
Chana told us a story in lunch and learn this Tuesday. She asked Rabbi's Bubby, “How much better is it to be a Jew in America?” Her answer was surprising and honest. She struggled to answer the question and then said that in Russia it was harder to be a Jew. So you held on to every tradition and Jewish teaching you could. But in America we CAN...so we DONT.
This weeks torah portion (Shemos) talks about how Pharaoh had all Jewish boys tossed into the Nile river but let the woman live. He let them live in order to convert the woman to the Egyptian ways. But did pharaoh win? NO. because we are all here in temple tonight. The woman kept Judaisms alive by maintaining three things. Their clothing according to Jewish law, their Hebrew names, and the language. Because they couldn't, they DID. They held on to every drop of Judaism they could.
So I ask you, what's your Pharoh? Why don't we flaunt the religion that our ancestors worked so hard to maintain. Why don't we always wear our star of David? Our kippa? Why don't we always fast on Yom Kippur? Why is coming to the oasis of Shabbat sometimes a chore? Because we can? Because we can is why we MUST. Our ancestors realized its value and so must we, and so must our children.
Because being Jewish....being chosen, is a gift from God.
Let's cherish it.