After being recently body-shamed, Ilana Rose shares her views on being a contemporary Jewish woman

As a 21-year-old British Jewish girl, I am blessed to live in a society where I have the freedom to choose how I practice and embrace my faith. I am reform and modern in my lifestyle. Recently, a photo I posted of myself on my private Instagram page was put on a WhatsApp group chat and ridiculed. “A nice Jewish girl wouldn’t do this,” someone said. The photo in question was of me showing off a tan line I'd managed to achieve in my garden. I felt violated and ashamed, wanting to delete all traces of the image.

When I expressed my hurt I was told that by posting my body on social media I was "asking for it" and that the messages were sent on a group that wasn’t intended to be seen publicly. But surely compassion should be maintained in private and public? Having my body policed by someone felt humiliating and degrading, especially in the name of a religion I belong to. How you dress doesn’t dictate how much respect you deserve; the beauty of Judaism is in the right to do what makes you feel happy, empowered and free.

The relationship young people have with their bodies can be a tricky one. As a Jewish girl, I always felt out of place with the ideal standard of beauty projected by society. My nose is prominent, my body hair dark and, at 5'3", you can count me out of the race to be the next Kate Moss. Having experienced bullying in my younger years – often around my “Jewish nose" – I am now fiercely proud of my heritage and appearance and happily live as a contemporary British Jew. Myself and the younger generation of Jews now have an important responsibility: we must ensure that those in the community struggling with not feeling “Jewish enough” have support and are not alone.

In response to this ordeal, I have started to make badges, t-shirts and tote bags brandished with the slogan “A nice Jewish girl wouldn’t do that” to reclaim the power that so many girls have lost due to being bullied. In a few hours I managed to raise £100, which will go to the charities Jami UK and Brook, the former aiding Jews with mental health issues and the latter providing sexual health and wellbeing services and education for young people.

If I spread just one message with this campaign, it is to ignore members of society who tell you how you should look, and to celebrate yourself. Jewish girls – or any girls for that matter – shouldn't regret sticking to their principles. They should ignore shaming and instead open up a dialogue around mental wellbeing and body positivity.

Mental illnesses are often overlooked in the Jewish community, so I ask you to share this message in order to support the charitable organisations and help those who are feeling vulnerable right now. Amidst the crisis the world is currently in, kindness is one of the easiest things with which we can bless another person.

By Ilana Rose

Donate to Ilana’s Nice Jewish Girl Campaign on JustGiving and visit nicejewishgirl.bigcartel.com to buy a badge.