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Belonging Belonging

Artist: Safa Carpentieri

Where Connection Begins

by Hadar Zohar

In the movie WALL·E, the lonely robot WALL·E spends his days cleaning an abandoned Earth, completely isolated. When EVE arrives, she brings connection into his life and provides him a way out of his loneliness. Through small shared interactions, their relationship shows how the feeling of belonging is something you build through companionship. This connects to the theme of belonging because, like WALL·E, many people may feel lost or alone; through connections with others, they are able to find the love, support, and home they've been searching for.

BBelonging elonging

by Chloe Benharrouch

Belonging is not always about the place we find ourselves in. It can sometimes be about feeling like we can finally be who we are.

I used to think that to belong, I had to fit in. I had to keep the peace. I had to stay quiet, so nothing made me feel uncomfortable.

I was not always an advocate for myself. I did not want to make things awkward, even if things were not right.

But I have learned that to truly belong, we do not have to stay quiet. We have to be who we really are.

For me, it was about stopping trying to avoid things that made me feel uncomfortable. It was about starting to choose growth.

The truth is, we do not find a sense of belonging by changing who we are to fit in. We find it when we have the courage to be who we really are.

To the Curator of the Publix Playlist

by Tamar Grobman

I am alone.

Shopping list in one hand, keys in the other. “Thunderstruck” plays through the buzzing speakers of the local run-down Publix. My wrinkled AC/DC shirt ties me to the music and to the old couple beside me nodding their heads to the beat.

They do not know me, but I am them, and they are me.

The music shifts, and with it, my home. The store’s flashing fluorescent lights turn a bright white as a Taylor Swift mashup consumes the air around me. The young girl to my left sways to the rhythm, and I cannot help but follow. Her mother joins in on our duet, and I become part of a family I never knew existed.

They do not know me, but I am them, and they are me.

I haul a seven-pound bag of ice over my shoulder and barely make it to the cart before my arms give way. Omer Adam’s “Tel Aviv” tries to overpower the sound of my bag crashing down before me. I look down; not at the ice, but at the Jewish star hanging from my neck. The group of young, sun-tanned girls entering the store does the same, muttering Hebrew words I only somewhat understand. But for a split second our languages intertwine, and our worlds collide.

They do not know me, but I am them, and they are me.

And I am no longer alone.

Never alone with sisters Never alone with sisters

by Gabriella Gorin

Belonging is a constant worry among teenagers. From the surface, it could just be seen as just fear of fitting in, but belonging is much deeper than that. The real feeling and expression of belonging lie in common stories, shared values and identities, and a place where a person ’ s thoughts and craziness are accepted as normal rather than judged. Without each of these qualities coinciding, the feel of belonging is only a facade, but not a true environment where you can be yourself and be accepted, even if full of faults The most natural and defining belonging lies with a relationship without choice, the life of having sisters.

Every family has its own stories that become traditions and reflect the value of time. Whether the laughs at the dinner table, impromptu dance parties, or the loud noises, it was never a dull moment. Through it all, having a sister means always having someone who knows your true character and knows every story of the family unedited. A sister knows every experience, memory, and perspective from every angle. Having a sister means someone is always there with you, maybe in spirit, maybe in person, but always connected In life, you may encounter a friendship like having a sister, but they will never truly understand your origin and background. That familial bond can never be unwritten; it will stay in the thoughts and feelings as a deciding factor towards life decisions. Sisters are one part of an individual’s story that they can’t rewrite, as their inputs allow for proper decisions.

Shared identity goes hand in hand and deepens the everlasting connection between sisters. A sister is like a mirror, illustrating that one change or difference can result in who the person will become. Even though sisters come from the same place, they don’t all turn out the same. There is strength in that, as in each one, however many, offers a different perspective Through differences in identity, choices can be made, followed or diverged from, as it illustrates what should and shouldn’t be done. The bond between sisters acts as a conversation, whether older or younger, that deciphers how to handle different situations.

Having that shared connection and space builds an irrefutable connection between sisters, one of understanding. Having sisters creates a safe space; there is no deceiving, only love and admiration. The connection created in a sisterly bond replaces isolation and creates a lifelong bond Belonging is not a destination; it’s a connection that’s built through shared experience that continues to be written Whether through inside jokes, hard conversations, or new ideas, sisters will never need performance, just themselves. Having sisters creates a safe space, a place where individuals can be truly themselves. For teenagers searching for a place of total acceptance, look no further than a sister.

Two Homes, One Heart Two Homes, One Heart

by Noa Nahom

A feeling of belonging comes from a sense of comfort and familiarity. To belong is to feel seen, to feel accepted, and to recognize yourself. This art piece displays the theme of belonging by connecting my two most defining aspects as an American Jew. It relates to the theme of belonging by presenting two different “homes.” One side represents personal life, here in Miami with my family- the place I physically belong to and reside in;

and the other half represents my bond with Israel, as well as how we as Jews connect to our holy land with prayers and mitzvot. The heart in the center links the two, symbolizing a shared identity and how belonging is not limited to one place. This piece reflects how belonging is expressed through shared experiences, culture, and togethernessdisregarding distance and creating a sense of home in both spaces.

WhereIFeel MostLikeMyself

by Sabrina Jamri

Belonging, to me, is not just about fitting in. It is about feeling understood without having to explain every part of yourself. It is finding pieces of your identity reflected in other people’s stories It is when a space feels warm not because it is perfect, but because you feel seen there It is shared memories, traditions, inside jokes, and quiet moments that remind you that you are not alone.

I feel that most strongly in my Jewish community. There is something powerful about walking into a room and knowing people just understand you. Whether it is Shabbat dinners, holidays, community events, or even just being at school. There is an unspoken connection. We share the same songs, the same prayers, the same traditions Lighting Shabbat candles on Friday nights, hearing Hebrew fill the room, celebrating holidays together, all of it makes me feel grounded and connected.

My Jewish community feels like home because my values are understood there. Respect, kindness, family, tradition, and faith are not just ideas; they are part of everyday life. I do not have to explain why certain holidays are emotional for me or why Israel feels personal. It is already understood. That shared identity creates comfort and strength.

Belonging means being proud of who you are while feeling supported as you grow. In my community, I feel connected to my history and hopeful about my future. I feel like I am part of something bigger than myself, something that has lasted for generations. That feeling of being rooted, supported, and seen is what belonging truly means to me.

Stronger Together Stronger Together

by Olivia Herschman

My piece shows a group of friends standing in a circle; their shoes forming a star. Each person has a different pair of shoes, showing individuality. Despite these differences, they come together to create a unified shape, symbolizing connection. This image demonstrates thatt people do not need to be the same to belong. In a world where people can often feel isolated, this image emphasizes that in order for people to belong, they do not need to be the same

Screens of Icarus

by Jeremy Dejman

They rise before the sun, fingers grazing glass, the glow a small altar in the darkness. A thousand voices whisper at once their praise, their judgment, their longing compressed into pixelated light

They scroll through lives they did not live, friends they will never truly know, futures measured in likes and hearts, and the weight of all these virtual eyes presses down heavier than gravity.

Every post a mirror, every story a rumor of perfection, and in the reflection they search for themselves but find only fragments of someone else’s applause.

The world tells them they are enough only when someone else decides to agree Their hearts beat like Morse code, each pulse waiting for validation from a screen that cannot love.

They learn the language of comparison before they learn their own names. Filters drape over their mornings, captions lace their nights, and they grow like statues molded by invisible hands into shapes they did not choose

Yet inside them still burns something untamed: a spark of revolt, a pulse that remembers what it is to be human outside the glare. It whispers: the world is not a feed, and life is not a highlight reel.

But the echo is faint, lost among trending hashtags, and every notification is a tide pulling them toward the cliff from which they will leap, believing the wings of filtered light can hold them.

Oh, children of the wired age, do not mistake connection for communion, nor distraction for desire. You are not the sum of your mentions, not the shape of your profile picture.

The world waits beyond the glass, untouched by judgment, uncurated, and there -- if you dare to look -you might find yourself unbroken, unfiltered, alive.

תבש

by Dalia Aghion

My photograph shows shabbat candles glowing, representing warmth, home, and connection. I chose Shabbat because it is a time when people come together and feel a sense of belonging. The light of the candles creates a peaceful space where people feel safe and seen. This connects to the theme because during the war in Israel,, Shabbat becomes even more meaningful. Families gather and even soldiers find comfort in the same traditions, reminding them that they’re not alone. Through this photograph, I wanted to show how these special traditions can bring people together and create a strong sense of identity and belonging, even in difficult times.

My 5th Grade Graduation

by Eli Kerbel

My Gordon School of Beth David Congregation graduation was about roots meeting wings tradition holding you steady while you step forward. It’s the feeling of being wrapped in community where faith, learning, and people who showed up for you all intersect at one milestone moment. This isn’t just an ending; it’s proof that you were shaped, supported, and celebrated every step of the way. You didn’t just graduate from something you graduated with something that stays with you.

The Flame We Carry

by Sarai Levy

Years pass by, As enemies try.

Tryto bring us down, But we still gather in everytown.

The lit candles shine bright, Representing our light. Ancient words we constantlysay, Connecting yesterdayto today.

A table set, familiar songs, A place where everyheart belongs. Across the miles, across the sea, Shared stories shape our history.

Though years maypass and times maychange, And life mayfeel so wide and strange, The songs and stories we share, Remind us that home is everywhere.

Because belonging is more than a place to stay, It’s the historywe carrydaybyday. Though at times we mayfeel alone, In each other we find our home.

Nature's Comfort

by Safa Carpentieri

Doesn’t this always happen?

Isn’t it always tri-angular

And yet i find myself simmering

Reheated, familiar scent

Filling through the house

As the showcarries on its feigned ignorance

Of the rich and denying audience

The peasants banned from entering

And still i wait and wither

Sit in the muck of not belonging

As I feel I live. in. every. area. of mylife.

I feel it does not belong to me

And no one is safe from leaving

I sense a constant wandering

Continuous, incessant, quintessential endless

Searching for meaning And comfort

The correct newhome until it’s outgrown

And the plants have taken over

Theytoo have deemed me unfit

Yet i belong in myown,

Realm i claim, with myhand on the ground

Messyand rude, it’s mine true

The spinning and spitting mind that runs to Unknown conclusions, muddled visions

To noone theyspeak, unclear sounds theysqueak But it works and its mine, finally

Until i carve myown dwelling

Of mud, clayor words

Where I laysurrounded bymirrors

And mythoughts echo around it

Until the pain eases

And anyaccountabilityabsolved

In mypresence I find solace

Waiting

by Nathan Schonfeld

Hold out just a little longer. The mantra repeated to the figure, A shell of a man in the mirror, Waiting, always waiting.

He foolishlybelieves in his together, But is lost in the battle of the other, As his own consciousness rips him all apart, As he merelystands there, waiting.

“When will Forever end?” he asked, While he carried all he was tasked. Each superficial act he played increasinglymundane, He continued to hold out just a little longer, waiting.

Each day, each night that should occur, Theybecame shorter, yet increasinglylonger, As the Sun and Moon seemed to have Their own scores to settle with him, him waiting.

He looked up to the skyand cried out, Searching for water in his heart’s drought, As the endless walls of his own mind And of those he thought he knewkept him, waiting.

But it was then that you stepped out, Out from a supernova of loneliness, With the darkness of the hurt that once haunted me, Being shrouded in the warmth and light of Belonging

Where I am Seen

by Mia Fishman

At first, I thought belonging was something to earn, a wayof shaping myself into what others could understand.

But I found it in quiet hospital rooms, in small moments of care where being present was enough.

I found it on stage, in shared stories and voices that made space for myown.

I found it in the community, in traditions and connections that felt like home.

Belonging is not fitting in. It is being seen, and finding a connection where you once felt alone.

Rules of the Game

by Bina Sragovicz

I learned the rules bywatching from the side, a board of shifting shapes I couldn’t name, theymoved with ease, while I just tried to understand the purpose of the game.

Each turn theyplaced their pieces with a grin, like secrets passed between a chosen few, I held mycards, unsure where to begin, unsure if I was meant to playit too.

But slowly, as I stayed and traced each move, the patterns softened, lines became more clear, I found a place that I could start to prove that I, at least, was somehowwelcome here.

And maybe life is just a game like this: we learn we belong bydaring to exist

Two Homes

by Melanie Benlolo

I used to think home was just my life in Miami, doing the same things every day, like school, dance, homework, and weekends with my friends. When I moved to Madrid in 10th grade, I was extremely scared and even said I hated it at first. Everything felt different, especially learning Spanish. Even though I could speak it, I couldn’t fully be myself or connect with people the way I wanted. On my first day, I felt out of place, even though everyone was welcoming, and it made me realize that understandingalanguageisnotthesameasfeelinglikeyoubelong.

Over time, things started to change when people began asking about my life and including me. I found small routines, like going to the same street to shop and eat, and Madrid slowlystarted to feel more familiar. By the end, I realized I didn’t just have one home, I had two. Now that I’m back in Miami, everything feels the same, but I am not the same person. I am more open-minded, and I understand that belonging is not just about where you start, but also about the places that shape who you become.

We Said It Until It Felt True

by Andrea Chocron

People love to say that Jews don’t belong. It’s an idea that’s been repeated for so long that it starts to feel like fact instead of fiction. You hear it in history, in stereotypes, in the way Jews are always described asoutsidersnomatterwheretheyare.

Butwhat’sworseisthatsometimes,evenJewsrepeatit.

Not directly, but in the way we talk about ourselves. We constantly emphasize how different we are, how we don’t fully fit in, how we’ve always been on the outside. We tell these stories like they define us. Over time, it stops sounding like something that was done to us and startssoundinglikesomethingthatjustis.

Andthat’stheproblem.

Because the moment you start narrating your own identity as “other,” you start to believe it. It shows up in small, almost invisible ways. In the pause before mentioning something Jewish in a conversation. In deciding whether something is “too much” to say. In quietly adjusting yourselfdependingontheroomyou’rein.

I’ve felt that before. Not because someone directly told me I didn’t belong, but because there was always this underlying question of how much of myself I should show. Like belonging was conditional, somethingIhadtomanageinsteadofsomethingIalreadyhad.

ButthemoreIthinkaboutit,themoreIrealizehowbackwardsthatis.

Belonging was never something we lost. It was something that got questioned so many times that we started questioning it too. And instead of rejecting that idea, we sometimes reinforced it, turning it into part of ourownnarrative.

Butwedon’thavetokeepdoingthat.

Because belonging isn’t about shrinking yourself to fit into a space. It’s about existing fully in it. It’s in the moments where you stop filtering, stop calculating, and just are. And when you actually let yourself do that, you realizesomethingsimplebutimportant.

Wewerenevertheoneswhodidn’tbelong.

Wejustgotusedtoactinglikewedidn’t.

A Y E R S

by Maayan Lugassy

g back at who you used to be can feel inful and beautiful at the same time. piece, “Layers,” is rendered in olor and graphite pencil, and it a young woman in soft grey tones ve streams of color fan out behind memories she can no longer quite reach. Purple, yellow, green, red, and blue, each one a different version of herself she has already lived through. She does not look back at them. She looks forward, or maybe inward, still figuring out where she fits now that things have gotten quieter. The color and the grey exist together in the same image, the same person, the same story. But the color never really left. It is still behind