By Karen Schwartz – Chabad.org
When Mitchell Leshchiner, 14, walked across the stage of his middle school graduation Tuesday, not only was he proudly wearing his graduation robe and the medals he earned for his various school accomplishments — on this special day he also decided to wear a kippah.
The Vernon Hills, Illinois, public school student says he doesn’t usually wear a skullcap, but felt compelled to do so in front of his graduating class of about 150, along with their parents and guests, after the recent shooting at Chabad of Poway near San Diego, California.
“I just think especially after the shooting, it was important to make a statement that we’re still here, and that no matter what happens, we’ll still be here,” he explained to Chabad.org. “I wanted to stand up against anti-Semitism.”
And so, he walked across the stage wearing a white kippah with a gold Star of David on it. The kippah was given to him in the days following the Poway shooting by Rabbi Shimmy Susskind, who directs the Chabad Jewish Center of Vernon Hills with his wife, Rochel.
Mitchell’s band – he’s in a group that plays Jewish music – performed at a Chabad event aimed at taking a stand against anti-Semitism, and the rabbi gave it to him to wear while he played.
The teen says he was also very motivated by his uncle, who’s heading to Israel in August to be a lone soldier in the IDF. “I showed him the kippah and told him I was wearing it during graduation,” the teen says. “He’s a big motivator of Judaism for me; he really got me more in touch with my Jewishness.”
Leshchiner says he previously had been wearing a kippah at least once a month to school with some friends, inspired as well by his Sunday school studies at Chabad and by his bar mitzvah. He adds that his actions have been well-received at school, where he estimates there are some 20 or 30 Jewish students out of the 150 in his class. “Our school is very accepting,” he says. During graduation, he got a lot of smiles, he says, and a hearty “mazel tov” from the superintendent as he shook hands with the school representatives on stage.
Looking ahead to high school, he says he’s excited to be part of his school’s Jewish student association, and more importantly, to continue to wear his Jewish identity with pride. “I hope anti-Semitism stops, and despite the fact that tragic events happen, that Jews will still be there and we will stay together,” he explains.
Rabbi Susskind says he called the teen right away when he saw the pictures of Leshchiner wearing a kippah at the graduation. “I congratulated him for doing something special,” says Susskind. “I thought it was very courageous, I wanted to give him a ‘thumbs up’ for what he did,” the rabbi says. Wednesday, the day he saw the pictures, happened to be his birthday, added Susskind. “I told him it’s the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten – for somebody to be inspired by Chabad to do that.”
Standing up for what’s right dispels darkness faster than fear and intimidation.
keeping shabbos is a better kiddush hashem. may you be zoche to do so! mazel tov
says who??
…since keeping Shabbos is a mitzvah, while wearing a kippah is a minhag (custom).
You may not realize that at times it depends on the person and if the minhag gets him its as vital as Shabbos to start.
Your comment seems to tell me that you don’t do much in tapping in to people and yidden.
It’s a great “minhag” to reach out ant influence all yidden in all ways as a starter. Hatzlacha in your new endevor!
Btw you may not be aware but the Halachists oblige one to wear a kipa based on ובחוקותיהם לא תלכו.
Excuse me, but where do you get anything you’ve claimed about me? It is true that one has to start somewhere, and putting on a kippah is a good start; it is also true that keeping Shabbos is far more important. (Nor did the original poster put down this young man for what he did, just stated – which is true – that keeping Shabbos is a better kiddush Hashem.) Your comment tells me that your idea of “tapping into people and yidden” involves taking the Torah down to their level rather than bringing them closer to it, which is… Read more »
Why do we have to argue so much??? Isnt it our job to make this world a better place? Does Hashem really want us to fight when someone does something special? Just keep your opinion to yourself and thats to everyone that has anything negative to say, and be proud of him! This is coming from a teenager.
You sound upset
I did not intend to upset you rather just to share what I wrote
Never judged you just wrote what “seems” from your comment.
Never was it implied that Torah is taken down. You missed the point please pay attention and read again carefully. Your last comment about shabbos is irrelevant to my comment.
What are you doing to bring unite our people and fight against anti-semetism? As a BT I know first hand what it is like to be the only Jew in a public school setting. We are the only representation and educator of our faith to the thousands or kids who attend. This is not an easy thing. As a young reform child in public school it was my job to teach my classmates and teachers on Jewish holidays etc. Luckily I was allowed to do so, including teaching songs. My mother would bring in treats to my classmates. I felt… Read more »
kol hakavod!!!!!
You are very special and we (down under – Australia) are all very proud of you and wish you to keep up being proud with upgrades in your Jewish identity!
Hatzlocha at your studies, at school and Jewish knowledge!