Jewish American Heritage Month: Honoring My Jewish Heritage By Speaking Up
Lauren Robbins is a third-year student at the University of Florida, studying Public Relations. Lauren’s passion for speaking up on behalf of the Jewish community is a focus of her Jewish identity and heritage. In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, we are honored to share Lauren’s story with you.
Growing up, I was the only Jewish girl in my elementary school class. I was six the first time I had to miss a birthday party because I was at synagogue for Yom Kippur. I loved my friends, but I always felt so alone.
Then, the summer before fourth grade, I went to a Jewish sleepaway camp for the first time. I was surrounded by girls who also had missed birthday parties for the High Holidays and never eaten bacon. That first summer turned into 11 summers—each one deepening my connection to Judaism and my Jewish heritage. Through spending time with Israeli staff and campers, singing Birkat Hamazon (blessings said after eating) after every meal, dressing in white for Shabbat, and casually using Yiddish in conversation, camp became the foundation for my Jewish identity.
As the years passed and it came time for me to tour colleges, one of the things I prioritized was visiting the Hillel on every campus I saw. I was searching for a place that felt like camp—somewhere warm, Jewish, and full of community. And so when I arrived as a student at the University of Florida two years later, my first stop was Hillel.
During my freshman year, I participated in UF Hillel’s freshman leadership fellowship, and loved it so much that I stayed on as director of communication and outreach for two years. The fellowship gave me a tight-knit Jewish community in a huge school, where I made close friends and explored what my Jewish values meant to me. Through workshops on leadership, identity, and communication, I learned that being present, embracing who I am, and stepping up for others are what make a meaningful community and strong leaders.
Another highlight from that time was when I first learned about Spread Cream Cheese Not Hate (SCCNH), a program to combat antisemitism at UF. I thought, “Cute name, an opportunity to fight antisemitism, bagels, and free t-shirts? Count me in.” On Bagel Day, SCCNH’s main event, I watched hundreds of students stand against antisemitism and all forms of hate. I felt so proud to be at a school that didn’t just accept Jews — it embraced us.
As a second-year student, the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel deepened my involvement with my campus Jewish community. I felt an overwhelming sense of guilt following the attacks. After all, if I were in Israel, like so many of my friends, I’d be serving my Jewish homeland. Instead, I was in Gainesville, Florida. I needed to take tangible action to support the Jewish people. So, I decided to become more involved in SCCNH by running their communications operation, responding to the dramatic spike in antisemitism that was occurring on college campuses.
One of the most impactful encounters I had while being involved in SCCNH was a conversation with a student on Bagel Day 2024. The student shared with me that before coming to college, she had never met a Jewish person, but now, some of her closest friends are Jewish. She told me she’d seen SCCNH all over social media throughout the day (not knowing I ran the account), and she made a point to include our table on her running route so she could sign the pledge and ask how she could get involved next year. Just after our conversation, we hit 5,000 signatures on the SCCNH pledge, which students sign as a commitment to stand up against hate in their communities. My conversation with this fellow student reminded me why I care so deeply about being a Jewish American who believes in building bridges, correcting misconceptions, and making our community more visible and proud.
I’m excited to continue this important work as chair of SCCNH for the 2025-2026 academic year, and to engage in conversation with more students about the importance of confronting antisemitism.
My Jewish American story has always been about community, action, and pride, whether at Hillel, on campus more generally, or in supporting Israel during times of need. I’m proud that my activism and leadership are rooted in the legacy of Jewish Americans who came before me. Jewish American Heritage Month honors our history and inspires us to write the next chapter. That chapter is on campus and in our communities, guided by the values of love, courage, and pride in our heritage.