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“Anatoly as long as you are there,

We the children of Israel share your prayer,

Anatoly as long as you’re not free, neither are we.”  (D. Mishkin)

I recall singing those words as a teenager active in NFTY in the late 70s/early 80s, together with thousands of others across the country as we raised our voices in support of the Jewish Refuseniks trapped in Russia, and in protest against any governmental forces which failed to act for the justice we sought.  As teenagers, we found strength in and felt empowered by the fact that we were united by the cause of personal and religious freedom that we all believed to be just.

Throughout my high school years, the pursuit of justice regarding a few different causes remained a significant focus of our local, regional and national youth gatherings.  But let me be clear - never once was I manipulated by adult mentors to espouse particular points of view, or coerced to participate in particular expressions of indignation, or intimidated to challenge a particular perspective if I didn’t agree.  If or when I opted to write letters, join a rally, sing out with hope, or learn more about a particular topic was informed solely by my conscience, my family upbringing, my Jewish values, and my sense of right and wrong.

This past weekend, our 18 year old son Ben approached Jill and me and indicated that his desire to go to Washington, D.C. to participate in the “March for Our Lives” on March 24.  Though he is a thoughtful teen by nature, Ben has never previously asked to do something like this.  After discussing his reasons for wanting to go, assessing his level of seriousness, and understanding the sincerity of his intentions, Jill and I were equally delighted to agree to Ben’s request!   Almost 40 years later, the cause has clearly evolved.  No longer a unified call to free Jewish Refuseniks, but rather one that is understandably far more personal, compelling, and important:  a plea for common sense gun legislation to curb the murder and terror with which they are now, sadly and tragically, having to live their lives. 

Neither my son Ben nor any of his impassioned, articulate, and intelligent friends who are raising their voices about gun violence and AR-15s on the streets, is choosing to speak up, march in Washington, D.C., post on social media, attend rallies with their friends, or write letters to their elected officials because they are being manipulated by the media or anyone else for that matter!  No, it is quite the contrary.  What is happening is that our teens are finding their voices in the pursuit of a truly just cause, a cause with life or death consequences that too many of them have tragically already known firsthand.  Watching our teens take to the streets, meet with the press, challenge elected officials, and raise their voices with the cry “Enough!” is a truly remarkable, inspiring, and hopeful sight.  And so I say, “March on, our courageous teens!  March on!”