One Teen’s Fight against Antisemitism: Sofie Glassman
Sofie Glassman, a high school senior and a sought-after public speaker, dedicates her time outside of school fighting antisemitism and advocating for Israel. Courtesy of Sofie Glassman
The pervasive antisemitism Sofie Glassman encountered each day at East Meadow High School on Long Island, New York, did not erode her sense of Jewish identity.
It deepened it.
“I became even more outspoken and proud of my Judaism in response to the increased hate,” she confided to Jewish Action.
At a time when hostility toward Jews is surging across social media feeds, campuses and city streets, Glassman—a high school senior and a sought-after speaker on antisemitism—stands as a striking testament to the power of student advocacy.
“I started to realize that there is nobody on our side,” she says. “There is nobody who is going to stand up for us unless we do it ourselves.”
The seventeen-year-old, who currently serves as president of her regional Jewish Student Union (JSU), sits on the JSU national executive board, and leads her school’s JSU chapter, spends most of her time outside of school dedicated to fighting antisemitism. JSU, a program of NCSY, is a network of 400 Jewish culture clubs on public and private high school campuses throughout North America where students can strengthen their connection to their Jewish pride and heritage. A member of nine Jewish organizations, Glassman speaks at organizational meetings and other events—she spoke at this past year’s OU gala and convention—but her first talk about combating antisemitism was at a forum held at the Nassau County Legislative building in the spring of 2023. The forum was hosted by the Nassau County Legislative Task Force to condemn threats of antisemitism across Long Island.
Shy by nature, Glassman, who was fifteen at the time, had no prior experience with public speaking. “I was very scared,” she recalls, “but I spoke, and I told them about all the antisemitism I was seeing in my school, including how somebody brought to my attention that there were swastikas in the boys’ bathroom.” She had photos to prove it. During the talk, Glassman recounted various antisemitic incidents—including one in which students seated behind her in the cafeteria watched antisemitic videos and made jokes about the Holocaust—and how she had approached the school administration, who assured her they would investigate. But she did not notice any changes after that. The antisemitic comments and incidents continued.
A representative of StandWithUs, an educational organization that helps students and communities combat antisemitism, was present at the forum, and they offered to help. StandWithUs sent a legal letter to Glassman’s school, threatening them with media action and giving them a deadline to respond.
“My school responded indirectly,” says Glassman. “They sent a letter out to the district saying that they don’t tolerate antisemitism. But that was for the parents. It doesn’t get through to the children.”
At the end of that school year, the school superintendent resigned. The new superintendent happened to be Jewish. On the first day of eleventh grade, Glassman sent the new superintendent a letter, introducing herself and requesting a meeting.
They met and discussed the issues. As a result, the superintendent introduced changes to the elementary school curriculum, teaching the children about antisemitism. “That way, we can help the next generation,” says Glassman.
I became even more outspoken and proud of my Judaism in response to the increased hate.
Sowing the Seeds
The seeds of Glassman’s advocacy against antisemitism were planted early—in kindergarten, to be exact.
Her first encounter with antisemitism came at age five, when a Muslim classmate on the playground refused to play with her because she was Jewish. Hurt and confused, Glassman turned to her parents and her Hebrew school teacher, who explained that what she had experienced had a name: antisemitism.
Yet despite these experiences, Glassman’s connection to her Jewish identity took time to develop. She grew up attending a Conservative synagogue and Hebrew school, but it wasn’t until she spent a summer in Israel that she truly felt a deep, personal bond with her Judaism.
The first family member to travel to Israel was Glassman’s mother, Shari, who in 2018 went on a The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) for Moms trip, organized by NCSY. “That’s when my mom realized that there was a piece missing in our lives, and that was our connection to Israel,” says Glassman. Shari continued her involvement with TJJ for Moms, going on several more Israel trips.
Glassman speaking at the OU gala and convention. Photo: Ulrich Studios
The family began incorporating more Jewish traditions into their daily lives, including Shabbat dinners. Glassman became involved with NCSY, where she met Orthodox Jews for the first time and gained a broader perspective on Judaism. She played a key role in founding a JSU club at her school. “It was very important to me because I was able to bring my Jewish identity to my high school,” she recalls.
At her school, Glassman makes sure the school announces her JSU club meetings every week with its full name: The Expressing Pride in Israeli Culture Club. “It’s a small thing, but I think it’s powerful that everyone at East Meadow hears that regularly on the loudspeaker,” she says.
In the summer of 2023, Glassman traveled to Israel on a TJJ trip. “It completely changed my perspective on Judaism and what Israel actually means,” she says. “I had never been to Israel before. Being there and connecting to the land was really impactful for me. It solidified everything I was learning and doing.”
After October 7
Because Glassman had honed her skills as a Jewish activist, when October 7 happened, she was prepared.
At school, tensions escalated. Students posted messages like “Zionists are colonists” and “Zionists are the worst thing you can be.” Others shouted “Free Palestine” as they passed her in the hallway.
Glassman sprang into action. She launched a campaign to raise money for Israel, and her mother shared it on social media. The response was overwhelming.
“The amount of people who just wanted to help in any way that they could was insane,” she recalls. “Seeing people who had never expressed their love for Judaism come forward and want to help showed me the power of the Jewish community and how we come together in times of uncertainty. We were able to buy supplies and send them right away.” The much-needed supplies were flown to Israel, alongside donations from other organizations.
Building on that success, Glassman looked for other ways to raise funds. She began designing and selling pro-Israel apparel, donating the proceeds to Jewish and Israeli causes. Her sweatshirts, T-shirts and accessories—adorned with Jewish symbols and the message Stop Jewish hate, spread love—quickly became sought after.
Glassman says, “I realized that people could show their Jewish pride by wearing something simple, while also helping a greater cause. So really the impact was doubling.”
Glassman ultimately created a nonprofit organization, Stop Jewish Hate Spread Love, dedicated to combating antisemitism while spreading positivity.
She continues to sell her apparel, often wearing it—along with her custom Israel-themed shoes—to school and around the neighborhood. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, from both Jews and non-Jews.
“Even something so small builds tolerance and a community around you,” she says. Her friends report that when they wear the apparel, people stop them on the street to start a conversation.
Rather than responding with anger, she believes education is the most effective way to combat hatred.
The local Jewish community and NCSY have been deeply supportive of her work. Some of her non-Jewish friends have stood by her, while others have distanced themselves. But her advocacy has also introduced her to new friends—people, she says, “who want to make a difference and are constantly growing.”
“Sofie is someone who is able to motivate others,” says Rabbi Sammy Aronson, director of Mid-Island NCSY and JSU. “And whether it’s starting her own organization, or planning an event or being the first to sign up for a trip—Sofie is always willing to try new things.”
“Sofie stands up for what she believes in,” says Nechama Kamelhar, director of family engagement, Tri-State NCSY. “She has strong leadership qualities and she’s not afraid to speak out.”
With the recent worldwide rise in antisemitism, Glassman’s commitment to fight it has only grown. Glassman continues to speak at Jewish events, having worked hard to overcome her shyness. “Now I’ve broken out of my shell, because it is so much bigger than myself and I feel that it’s my responsibility,” she says.
Next year, Glassman plans to attend the Bar-Ilan University gap year program in Israel. Her long-term goal is to become an Israel educator. “I want to teach people about Israel and its importance, especially non-Jews,” says Glassman.
In the future, Glassman hopes to focus her organization on education. For now, she is planning more events and aims “to grow my efforts, raise more money, and also find new ways to support the Jewish community.”
Yehudis Litvak is an author of Jewish-themed historical fiction and a regular contributor to various Jewish publications.
In This Section
The Pen Is Mightier than the Sword: Fay by Barbara Bensoussan
Fighting the Good Fight: Kassy Akiva by Sandy Eller
Getting to the Root of the Story: Meira K. by Merri Ukraincik
Advocacy on a Higher Level: Tziri Preis by Barbara Bensoussan
One Teen’s Fight against Antisemitism: Sofie Glassman by Yehudis Litvak
That Girl Who Loves the Jews: Adina Fernandez by Sarah Ogince