By: Jillian Lederman
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As the third of seven children, I grew up in a house that was never quiet. I was less than three years old when I was no longer the baby of the family, and I was barely seven when I became an older sister for the fourth time. Life was chaotic, disorganized, loud, so very Jewish, and I loved it more than I can possibly say. On Friday afternoons when I was little, the house would be warm: challah cooking in the oven, Shabbat songs playing on the old karaoke machine, and the rooms ringing with the cacophony of all four grandparents and a new baby nearly every year.听

For me, Judaism is warmth. It is the warmth of a mazel tov on a happy occasion. It is the warmth of far too much food at every social gathering. It is the warmth of traveling away from home to college and having a constant, reliable base in the campus Hillel. And it is the warmth of hearing 鈥渨elcome home鈥� the moment you step foot in Israel.

I love that warmth. I crave that warmth. I am so unbelievably privileged to have known that warmth my whole life.

But it is also that warmth that makes me unable to stay silent when Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions resolutions get introduced at Brown University, or when 鈥淔ree Palestine鈥� gets carved into dining hall walls, or when Students for Justice in Palestine initiates Apartheid Week on campus. I grew up in a house that was never quiet, and when it comes to Israel, I feel a responsibility to speak up. My first year of college, I joined Brown Students for Israel, and as a current junior, I serve as the club鈥檚 president. As a pro-Israel, Jewish student, my role is not only to fight explicit forms of anti-Zionism, but also to engage others in productive dialogue about places where we can find common ground.听

During the summer of 2021, when only first-years were on campus due to Brown鈥檚 COVID-19 policies, I organized a joint meeting with Brown Students for Israel and J Street to discuss the Knesset鈥檚 plans for a new government coalition. Our two clubs have serious philosophical differences, and yet, thirty students from both groups managed to come together just to talk to one another. This type of dialogue forms a central reason why I am so grateful to also serve as one of the vice chairs of 精东影业鈥檚 Israel Leadership Network (ILN). As part of ILN, I have the opportunity to speak with over 100 students from diverse backgrounds and colleges, all of whom are passionate about understanding, celebrating, and reconciling our different opinions about Israel.听

My primary goal as president of Brown Students for Israel and vice-chair of ILN, and in my role as the Campus Free Expression Intern for the Bipartisan Policy Center, is to be a part of the movement to break down conversation barriers around Israel. Misconceptions and misinformation thrive in silence. I am so lucky to have grown up in a house that was never silent, because Judaism is never silent. Israel is never silent. Everything about our community is warm, loud, and robust 鈥� and I feel very grateful to be part of a people who are committed to keeping it that way.

鈥淚n fifth grade, I struggled with a newly diagnosed life-threatening peanut allergy, the resulting anxiety, and for good measure, an appendectomy. During that rough year, writing was the creative outlet I needed and became the catalyst for the adventure of a lifetime.

鈥淚 decided I wanted to write a story that I, as an avid reader, would love to read. I molded my favorite genres into one idea, creating the Stone of Discedo: a time-traveling stone that requires the user to fix three terrible events in history to access its power. I did hours of research to send my characters on their adventures, and hundreds more perfecting the story.

鈥淥nce I finished, I wanted to publish it. Some kids laughed, some believed I could do it. Their doubt became fuel to my fire: I promised myself I鈥檇 make it happen 鈥� whether it took ten years or 10,000 rejections. I spent three-and-a-half years rewriting and editing. Finally, at 14, I signed a book contract. I have since released two novels, One Chance and Two Secrets (with Three Quests on the way), and a book for kids with anxiety called Cloudy Days.

鈥淚鈥檝e spoken to over 5,000 kids from dozens of schools, from every background imaginable. My presentation resonates with each kid differently: Some come up after my talk and tell me they鈥檙e going to write a book. Others tell me I inspired them to work harder on their hobby, or that they鈥檙e going to start reading more. Teachers have told me that for some kids, my books are the only chapter books they鈥檒l read, or that after my presentation, their students can鈥檛 stop writing stories.

鈥淚f I could tell fifth grade Sarah that by pursuing her dreams, she鈥檇 get to speak to thousands of kids and inspire them too, she wouldn鈥檛 believe me. Each experience reminds me that I am the role model I鈥檝e always wanted to be 鈥� and that all the hard work was undeniably worth it.鈥� 鈥� Sarah Frank, Brown University听鈥�25

Sarah Frank is a 2021 recipient of the Handeli First-Year Student Scholarship from 精东影业. Learn more about Hillel scholarships for Jewish students.听