Giving back

Muss gave me more than just an unforgettable experience—it gave me a chance to give back. We packed food boxes with Pantry Packers, made sandwiches for soldiers, and visited Har Herzl. Even during the second Iranian attack, as we all huddled in a bomb shelter, fear didn’t define the moment. What I remember most is a deep, quiet strength—a mix of solemn understanding and hope for a better future. As rockets exploded and the ground shook, we stood together and sang Hatikvah. That moment will stay with me forever.

At Muss, I realized that every Jew is a link in a long, unbroken chain—one that continues to grow with each generation. I discovered a new part of myself and learned that each of us can make a difference. We are all part of something greater than we can ever truly grasp.

So, as I study this summer at Harvard and travel to Los Angeles as a Stand With Us intern, I will take all the great experiences I learned at Muss with me, and I hope I can impart them to you. Because anti-Semitism is not just my fight— it’s all of ours.

About the author:

Maayan Amsterdamer, is a 16-year-old junior at Bethlehem Central High School (BCHS). She lived in Israel until she was 10 years old and remains active in her Jewish community through local challah bakes and volunteer work. She a member of Bethlehem Youth Court, a student athlete (track and field), part of the BCHS Model UN club, and a CTeen leader. She also leads the Jewish Food Club at her school, serves as a StandWithUs high school intern, and is an alumna of the Jewish National Fund-USA’s Alexander Muss High School in Israel.