Whether walking with friends or alone on his way to class, Adi Weissman (’26) may appear like any other student moving through the spacious halls of Tenafly High School. But behind his demeanor is his dedication striving for more.. He’s not just a student; he’s an activist, and he is full of determination to do the best he can for the place he loves most: Israel. To learn more about his activism, a short interview with Weissman offered more insight into his passions and dedication as an activist:
You’re pretty new into activism. Have you had any hardships so far? Have you dealt with someone not agreeing with your activism or have you had any problems otherwise?
Well, for me personally, I was facing a lot of antisemitism when I was like, in sixth grade. Growing up, I used to think that, like, it was normal until I realized it wasn’t. I remember [one time] I was walking in New York with my friend and I had a Jewish star on my necklace, and this man had a poster saying he’s a Nazi and he’s threatening to kill me. He came to me, he screamed at me, and he started spitting on the ground. I ran away and I never wore my necklace again. I started thinking, Why should I be scared of showing my religion? Why should I be scared of wearing what I am? I’m a Jew, and we’ve been oppressed for centuries, many times in history. And we’ve always been blamed, and me again personally, every year, there’s those small things where I think enough is enough, and never again is now, and we need to make sure never again is never again.
What are your plans for the future in activism?
My plans in the future and [for more] active activism is to make sure there is a safe community for Jews, and to connect to Judaism and get other cultures to connect and understand each other in order to make both sides feel safe. My opinion is first to make sure there’s a safe space for Jews, but then also to connect all the cultures together and make them understand each other, teach them, and lastly educate them.
What steps have you taken to support your activism?
I brought a Nova survivor to this school where she spoke and she told her story and I thought that many people thought it was something small… but after that, I was walking down the hallway, like a week after, and a few teachers came up with me. They asked me for my name and they said ‘I heard the presentation. I saw it and it was amazing. I never knew what took place at the Nova festival’. Furthermore, I believe again that what happened on October 7 was just hidden, and the world turned their back on the Jews. They turned their back on Israel, and they believe that bringing the Nova survivor really helped open the truth for many people, and that’s how you start small. I also am starting an online account on Instagram to spread support and information because I know social media is ongoing, and it is a good way to reach out to people.
Why do you think it is important to be an activist, especially during this time?
Well, again, I think that Jews are being oppressed, and now, especially since social media is multiplying, I’m aware that children are growing up with over 40% of their day spent on their phone’s social media, which carries a lot of misinformation regarding many controversial topics. As a Jew in America, I think it’s my job to save the future.
Weissman’s heroic dedication to become a student activist for his country of Israel serves as a reminder that even in the darkest times, powerful voices can arise.
