OPINION: My 12-year-old daughter’s response to antisemitism inspires me every day
TV exec Leo Pearlman says Anoushka's decision to wear a Magen David after experiencing hate made her his teacher in Jewish pride
This Thursday we will gather as a family and community to celebrate my daughter’s batmitzvah, not just her coming of age, but a deeper truth about who we are as Jews. It is no coincidence that this momentous day falls on Lag BaOmer; it was a conscious choice, for it is a festival that breaks solemnity with a burst of joy, music, and light.
The 49 days between Passover and Shavuot are traditionally a time of reflection and restraint, a collective remembrance of loss. But on the 33rd day, Lag BaOmer, we are told we must rejoice. It is a spark of light in a period of mourning, a reminder that even in our people’s darkest hour, we should find joy, love life and stand together.
This year, that message feels more urgent, more personal, than ever before.
Since 7 October , when the most devastating attack on Jews since the Holocaust shattered lives and hearts, Jews everywhere have carried a heavy burden. In the UK, antisemitism has surged, what once felt distant has become heartbreakingly close.
Just weeks after that terrible day, my daughter, then only eleven, experienced antisemitism for the first time. While visiting another school, she was told she couldn’t use their bathroom because “Jews weren’t allowed”.
Her response was to start wearing a Magen David necklace every day, as a symbol of who she was. She said it was because she was proud of being Jewish and wouldn’t let others make her afraid, that she didn’t blame the other child, but the parents who taught them to hate.
In that moment, my daughter became my teacher. I’ve used her words to inspire and motivate me every day since.
Lag BaOmer teaches us that we are a people who celebrate life, not because we are naive to suffering, but because we understand it deeply. We know the pain of exile, of persecution, of silence. And yet, generation after generation, we have chosen joy. We have chosen to pass on our traditions not only with memory, but with music, dance, and laughter.
To become batmitzvah is to accept the responsibility of being Jewish. It is also to inherit a legacy of strength, pride, and resilience. This Thursday, my daughter will join that unbroken chain. She will do so proudly, with a Magen David around her neck, not as armour to protect her, but as a statement to the world of who she is.
In a time when hate seems louder than hope, we owe it to our children not only to protect what we have, but to fight for what they have yet to build. That is the sacred task of Jewish parenthood and of Jewish continuity.
If there is one lesson from this batmitzvah, Lag BaOmer and 7 October, it’s that true courage means standing up and not allowing yourself to be defined by fear. Refuse to retreat into silence, refuse to apologise for who you are, refuse to hand a broken world to our children with the excuse that it was too hard to fix.
Be inspired by them and be brave enough to take responsibility for their futures.
- Leo Pearlman is co-CEO Of Fulwell Entertainment
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
