Editor's note: Sammi Manassa was the student speaker at Chabad two weeks ago, on Friday night, Jan 27. The following is a transcript of her speech.
This week’s Parshah covered the ten plagues and the beginning of the exodus from Egypt. Although it took many attempts before Pharaoh had agreed to let the Jewish people leave Egypt it was even more difficult to take the influences of Egypt out of the Jews.
It is common belief within Judaism that if you are not growing than you are regressing, and the Jewish people were struggling to hold onto, and develop their connection with G‑d and tradition while enslaved in Egypt. Only the Jewish people that did not assimilate to Egyptian beliefs and culture would be able to leave Egypt during the Exodus.
This specific part of the Parshah spoke to me because I have found myself wavering in my Judaism when I adopt more and more aspects of our secular or even Christian aspects of our country.
I realize that often times I am fighting to maintain my Judaism as opposed to develop it and lately it has become even more important for me to stand up for my Judaism and make it known that it is a vital aspect of my life. I think it is important to stand up for my religion when I feel as though it is being oppressed or pushed aside, in the same way that many Jews defended their beliefs and continued to practice and learn about Judaism and ways to further their connection with G‑d.
Over break I was able to go home to Chicago and attend my sister’s choral concert; I had been previously warned by my sister that although it was called a Holiday concert it was very much a Christmas concert. When the concert was over I asked to speak with the choral director and expressed my serious displeasure with the song choices and voiced my belief that my sister’s beliefs were discarded because she makes up a minority. He said he understood my position and apologized for the way the concert was set up, next year they will be adding songs for Hanukkah and Kwanza.
I also had to stand up for my Judaism this year at a class here at your university. After writing a paper and the term Jew I received a failing grade and found that in red pen it was written that I killed Jesus. As time went on I knew I could not stand for being mistreated and so I went to the school board and filed an academic grievance. I was able to prove my case through my paper and various emails between my professor and I. I received an A and he will not be returning to the University.
This act was small but for me it proved that I can stand up for my religion, be proud of my Judaism and continue to learn and grow with it, and that will be my exodus. There are so many things that can be done to stand up for Judaism, whether it is big or small.
You can speak to your sorority or fraternity about moving formal so that you can attend shabbos services, you can speak with your boss about having Kosher food at meetings; the possibilities are endless.
No matter the size of the act, you're ensuring that you are keeping your culture and religion alive and you’re growing with it.