This week’s parsha tells the story of the scouts who enter the Land and come back full of fear. Their report? “We looked like grasshoppers in our own eyes – and so we were in theirs.” They were scared – not because of what they found, but because of how small they believed they were in the eyes of others.

When people treat you like you don’t belong, it can start to shape how you see yourself. This week, our youth were told – again – that their lives are up for debate. That their care, their identities, their futures aren’t worth protecting.

But we know the truth: You are not defined by others’ fear.
You are not a grasshopper, or any other kind of bug.
You are not too much. You are not too small.
You are not defined by small minds, narrow systems, or those who cannot see your full humanity.

At JQY, we affirm every young person’s right to safety, dignity, and self-expression. We fight back against the idea that your worth is up for debate. You deserve care. You deserve joy. You deserve to live fully – as yourself.

We refuse to see ourselves through their eyes.
We know who we are. And we’ll keep showing up, louder and stronger 🦗