Is it safe to become Jewish?

(JTA) — “Rabbi Adar, is it dangerous to wear my Jewish star?”

In 12 years of teaching “Introduction to the Jewish Experience” through HaMaqom | The Place in the San Francisco Bay Area, no student ever asked me that question in those words.

This year three students have asked it of me. The first student who asked it was a young woman, a conversion candidate, and she made an appointment to talk to me outside of class.

I answered with a question: “Why are you asking this right now?” She talked about reading about attacks on Jews in New York City, and in West Hollywood. She talked about the fact t...