We're Not Going Anywhere

Zionism and rap music

This essay is part of a new collection of work inspired by the anthology On Being Jewish Now: Reflections of Authors and Advocates. Want to contribute? Instructions here. Subscribe here.

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Photo by Max Wolfs on Unsplash

Two days after the horrific attacks of October 7, I left my family’s Thanksgiving dinner to attend a rally at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto. As much as I wanted to load my plate with turkey and put myself into a food coma, I felt that it was my duty to stand with my community and show my support. My family understood, and reminded me to be safe.

As I walked to the subway, I felt the need to listen a song—and not just any song. I picked “We Right Here” by DMX, because of the lyrics in its chorus.

We’re not going anywhere.
We right here.

I wanted to feel confident and proud of who I was. It felt like there was a target on the collective backs of the Jewish people. There would undoubtedly be plenty of protesters at the rally, looking to kick us while we were down.

And so I turned to DMX. I needed a mental boost—which his music reliably gives me. When I’m pushing through a gruelling workout, I often turn to DMX classics because of their up-tempo, rugged, and aggressive nature. I listen to those songs and I feel like I can run through a wall.

We’re not going anywhere.
We right here.

Those words also encompass how I feel about my Judaism and Zionism today. I am a proud Jew and believer in the existence of the state of Israel, the home of our people. Always have been, always will be.

I have visited Israel several times, both with my family and with community programs. My first trip was with Dorot, a five-week summer tour when I was 15. Two years later, I took part in March of the Living, visiting the death camps in Poland and then traveling to Israel to celebrate its independence. In 2018 and 2019, I went on Birthright, first as a participant and then as a leader. After both of those trips, I extended my stay in Israel to spend time with my cousins in Yehud. I had only met them once before, on a family trip, but staying with them for weeks gave us an amazing bond. Were it not for my time in Israel, I wouldn’t be close to that side of my family, who I love dearly.

I know that Israel is not a perfect country; no country is. I will always consider Canada, where I have lived my entire life, my home. But over the past two years, as antisemitism has spread across social media and Jews around the globe have been unjustly attacked, I have become even more certain that Israel is paramount to Jewish survival. Israel is the only true home for Jews—the place where we can always seek refuge.

My grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, is always proud to see Israeli soldiers in uniform. He is a staunch Zionist, as is my mother, and as am I. When the Holocaust began, we didn’t have a place to escape to. Now, we do. And although many people are praying for Israel’s destruction, that isn’t happening. Not now. Not ever.

We’re not going anywhere.
We right here.

Thanks to everything we’ve been through since October 7, I feel more proud to be Jewish and more connected to my fellow Jews and Israelis. I also feel more motivated to connect to my religion through my practices. I speak Hebrew whenever an opportunity arises. I go to synagogue on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and I celebrate the other major holidays through meals with my family. I recently started putting on tefillin on Friday mornings. I wear a necklace inscribed with the Hebrew word yachad, which means “together.”

The more the world tries to intimidate and threaten us, the stronger my connection to Judaism grows. And I know I am not alone in that regard. In that way, our enemies are only making us stronger.

We’re not going anywhere.
We right here.

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Jamie Rebner is a certified life coach in Toronto, where he focuses on helping people achieve a healthier work-life balance. Before that, he taught mental skills to athletes to improve their performance. In his spare time, Jamie loves to write about boxing. He has been a freelance writer since 2016, having gotten his start with The Fight City website. He has also contributed to The Ring and Ringside Seat magazines. He is currently working on his first book, which is about George Foreman’s epic comeback to reclaim the world heavyweight title in 1994. Being involved in the Jewish community has and always will be an essential part of his life.

Instagram: @jamierebner
Substack:

Jamie R

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This essay is part of a new collection of work inspired by the anthology On Being Jewish Now: Reflections of Authors and Advocates. Want to contribute? Instructions here. Subscribe here.