USA

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I AM …

I am a Jewish American. USA is where I was born, I am a citizen of USA. My spiritual homeland is and will always be ISRAEL. I will not do anything to harm USA but likewise I will ALWAYS defend Israel.

Teréza Eliasz-Solomon. 🇺🇸

Hebrew Name: Bathsheba. 🇮🇱

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Being Jewish and American!

Me, Ralph Lauren, Doctors, Teachers, Scientists, Entrepreneurs of every sort, Chefs, Store Clerks, Artists, Journalists and others — Being a Jewish American has never been easy.

As other minority Americans can also attest to it is a sense of belonging and yet not ever really belonging … Always being aware that we are thought of as separate.

Last Friday evening at Breast Cancer Fundraising Event one of my invited guest, he is also one of my wonderful Doctors, has become a valued friend and I chatted about this … He is not Jewish but also a minority, both of us born and raised in USA, both of us have traveled to other parts of the world. I am older by almost thirty years and when I told him I have never fully or completely felt safe in this nation, he seemed surprised. This good man, this skilled surgeon has not YET felt as I do … For this I am glad, same as I am glad when my own family’s younger generation tell me they understand how I feel but they, so far, for the most part do feel safe — not always fully but mostly yes.

My friend — the Surgeon asked me what is my security? Simple I explained — it is my own internal strength, it is my family, my friends, people near and far who have shown me no matter the same or different than me we are one another’s community. My truest allegiance is to people in my life — I went on to say the credit goes to my parents, for they somehow instilled in me the awareness and the ability to feel at home anywhere in the world. Studies say it takes 21 days to feel comfortable in a new place, it takes me 21 or less hours and I am grateful for that, more and more as I see the instability of all nations growing more evident.

None of what I feel as an outsider means I do not appreciate this nation, it does not mean I am without gratitude for being a citizen of this nation nor am I without an understanding of the benefits of having been born here. To be a citizen of this nation is not without its rewards. This country as I myself am is a work in progress and as I hope for myself I too hope for this nation … That is to always try to be better.

Allow me to end this essay on something positive. After all I am and always have been the glass more than half full lady, the no problem I can easily make delicious lemonade out of any lemon person. What I most want people reading this to know, to take away as inspiration is each of us can overcome all obstacles, find a place to feel safe and secure — by ourselves or with help from those who care and even when not fully understanding how we feel will be supportive in our best and worse of times!

Teréza Eliasz-Solomon.

Hebrew Name: Bathsheba

10 October 2024. 25 Tishri 5784.

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Hate Is a Virus – Stop Spreading It!

Time to get real — no one is exempt, everyone who dialogues using hateful rants, slurs and dangerous misinformation — all who indulge in mean rhetoric in conversations, on social media is in very real ways responsible for the growing violence in this nation. There is no right nor wrong here — only the reality that too much hate, too much self indulgent promotion of issues even when based on important and valid concerns has become a war like interaction. We need to stop it NOW!

Teréza Eliasz-Solomon. February 2023.