October 16, 2026
Last week, as I anticipated my second presentation of the semester to the Worthington high schools’ Poli-Rad classes, I could not help but wonder if the work I was doing was worth it. Since 2022, I have visited this course once each semester at both Worthington high schools to teach about the history of antisemitism and how it impacts the Jewish community today. Since October 7, the work and presentation have become more difficult. It was far easier to talk about Kanye West’s tweets than it has been to help give context to the increasing anti-Israel sentiments they see on social media and perhaps even post themselves. I sit and I wonder if there is anything I can say that might give them a sense of reality and help them realize they are victims of a propaganda storm that has swept them away.
Several years ago, it occurred to me that most of the students had met very few Jewish people and most likely knew next to nothing about Judaism or the Jewish people. I added a component of my presentation to teach about who Jews are and what we believe—that we are created in the divine image, that repentance matters, that we are called to care for the orphan, the widow, and the stranger, that we pray for peace at every service, and that we are connected to Israel. With insight from Dara Horn’s newest book, The Final Solution to the Jewish Question, I began to share that the “Jewish people are a joinable tribe with a shared culture, history, and homeland.” In reading her book, I think she would be highly critical of the work I am doing, but that’s okay. There is something to be said for standing before high school students, presenting something completely alien to them, especially when they are exposed to so much propaganda on social media that maligns Jews, the Jewish people, and Israel.
Several days after I visited the Thomas Worthington students, I received the reflections in the mail from the Worthington Kilbourne High School students whose class I visited in early September. As I opened the envelope, a bit of trepidation set in: What would the responses say? Would they refute everything I shared with material they gleaned from biased sources online; sources which they take as truth and are unable to recognize biases. I was pleasantly surprised to read that students recognize that Jews are a minority, and many people will never meet a Jewish person. They thought that implementing education about Judaism and the Jewish people would lead to fewer stereotypes. Another student empathized with the hate we have experienced as a Jewish community and hoped more people would come into classrooms and share personal stories and experiences because doing so could prevent future harm. They even said it was important to talk about antisemitic incidents in class when they happen in the world.
This recent presentation came on the heels of visiting the Dublin Coffman theater program, which is presenting “Come From Away” this week. Our very own Quinn Bailey will play the rabbi. They asked me to present on the Jewish themes in the show – welcoming the stranger and caring for those in need. While I thought I would present for about 15 minutes, I spent closer to 40 minutes with them. Their questions were profound, and the theater director thanked me for being one of the only religious leaders to be willing to come in and present to them.
As I reflect on this, I think about something I learned many years ago from my grandmother. She was a receptionist for five OB/GYNs and she worked into her 80s. Even in the heart of Long Island, her co-workers and patients would come to her with questions about Judaism. She would often answer, then come to me to ask if she was right or for the answer if she didn’t know. She helped me realize that we are all ambassadors for Judaism, whether we want to be or not. It is a tremendous responsibility that asks us to know a bit about our story. Being an ambassador for Judaism and the Jewish people helps those we encounter understand that we are real and not some mythical group of people that lives only on the pages of history books. It leaves us with the question: What would it take for us to feel confident in being an ambassador for the Jewish people? And how can we help you get there?
The students gave me hope, and it really is a blessing to do this sacred work.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Rick Kellner