Yeshiva University - Masmid Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 8 text:

I am proud lo be a Jew! . . . Why? . . . Well, because of all Ihe reasons thai I have learnt in school. That ' s why!! How do I know that I am proud? Because 1 just am . . . ofcourse 1 am ... 1 mean I marched in the parade!! The first very warm day of spring. Li ghtweight jackets flung over shoulders or carefully draped over one arm. Pressing lo the curb to catch sight of the parade. And what is a parade but people ' . ' Jews, young and old, out on this sunny afternoon lo take part in a special event, marching down the broad avenues of New YorkCiy with banners, floats, and flags. The entire area of the parade is filled with youth, carefree — soon to be adults — untouched by the travails of life. They mill about with the energy characteristic of their kind, each pursuing his immediate future with a gay and carefree vigor. No thought is more dear to them than the pleasures of an immediate future. My thoughts swing suddenly back to the marchers. I notice now the lack of luster, blatant only in comparison to the youth. They march, chanting slogans, and bearing banners identifying their groups, as if they ' re fulfilling an obligation, continuing only to claim credit before dispersing. It seems strange that the warm sunnincssof the day does not invigorate them, but this, as well as the youth love of life is not the kind that will inject determination into a people comfortable with placidity. Can we who do not know pain and oppression muster the depth of feeling to actually rage at an unseen, unrealized enemy? Is Judaism precious lo me? . . . Am I proud? . . . How do I know? . . . Whoever tested me? , . . No sooner does this unanswered wail fade from my consciousness than another comes to mind. Natan Scharansky walked slowly across the bridge. The sun was not strong and he was alone, but the pride in a man ' s eyes and bearing is unmistakable. 1 will not bcmoon my placidity and remain abject. 1 will make this man ' s pain mine and with this, his pride will become mine. His strength will be mine, and in my eyes and in my bearing his pride will be reflected. And reflected indeed because I can not bear it to remain within me. For this must be the promise and future of my generation. I will know that I am proud JULES POLONETSKY Class of 1986