Conspicuously Jewish

By Nina Fondiller Woldin

I have just returned from four weeks of cross-country travel in a 19-foot camper van. It is the eleventh time I have made this trip. The catalyst for our very first journey was COVID-19. At the beginning of the pandemic, my daughter on the West Coast gave birth to her second son. By the time he was six months old, we still hadn’t been able to meet him in person. With California sheltering in place and vaccines not yet available, my husband and I bought a small, self-contained camper van and set off. Since then, we have made it a tradition to drive out twice a year to visit our California family, as well as our youngest daughter in Denver.

As a former “fly-over” traveler, I’ve discovered a deep appreciation
for what you learn when you cross the United States one state at a time.

 

Of course, flying is an option again, but as a former “fly-over” traveler, I’ve discovered a deep appreciation for what you learn when you cross the United States one state at a time. In these times of cultural divisiveness and social strife, the drive feels like taking the true pulse of our country.

One experience from a past trip stands out vividly. On October 6, 2023, we were in Crystal Forest, Arizona, posing for a selfie in front of a teepee. As I looked into my phone screen, a distinct Israeli accent cut through the air: “You want me to take your photo?”

We gladly accepted, and that chance encounter led to an unforgettable evening with Orly and Ron. They were driving a camper much larger than ours, packed with swag for an upcoming trade show in Florida where they would represent their high-tech company. Ron had just wrapped up a gig as a video consultant at Burning Man, and Orly had just returned from Israel, where she had welcomed their newborn grandson. They shared that three of their four children were currently serving in the IDF. Because Orly had just been in Israel, she had a treasure trove of Israeli treats, and since it was Erev Chag, we shared a beautiful, traditional holiday dinner under the desert sky.

We all know what the very next morning, October 7th, brought for this couple with three daughters in the army—and we know how the world fundamentally changed for the rest of us.

My original plan for this blog post was to compare the political climate of my past trips to what I see today, but I find myself wrestling with what to say. Today, we seem to navigate two entirely distinct realities. There is the cyber world of news and social media, where we feel constantly threatened, and then there is the physical world, where the people we encounter face-to-face often remain deeply positive toward Israel and the Jewish community.

Still, the reasons to feel afraid are undeniable. Coming from New York, we are witnessing a terrifying uptick in antisemitism and violence. Just recently, when we attended Yom Kippur services with our daughter at Denver’s oldest congregation—a beautiful 152-year-old synagogue—we were guarded by sharpshooters stationed on the roof.

Yet, I have to balance that stark image with the “good old boys” we met in Tennessee, who were quick to look us in the eye, express their unwavering support for Israel, and tell us they bless the Jewish people. I truly believe their sincerity; we met so many people across the heartland who were genuinely warm and friendly.

So, what conclusion can I draw from these miles on the road? Just this: Whether we agree on everything or not, wherever we find each other in this vast country, Jewish people must choose to stand together. By stepping out of our screens and engaging with the world face-to-face, we discover that the threads binding us to each other—and to unexpected allies—are far stronger than the digital divisions tearing us apart.

However, there is one on-screen activity you can do that will build our community! Attend Chai Mitzvah’s virtual classes, where we welcome everyone and have meaningful conversations.

Nina Fondiller Woldin is the Managing Director of Chai Mitzvah, and has worked in Jewish education for decades, creating student materials and programs for all ages, pre-K – adult. Her work has been published by Behrman House, Ktav, Kar Ben Publishing, Addison Wesley and Grolier. She created one of the first online Jewish education resource centers, Yourpage.org, which became part of Jewish National Fund’s website in 2003.