Gymnast Alexandra (Aly) Raisman says that a letter from a Holocaust survivor has helped her realize that when she performs, she represents not only her country but Jews as well.
“I had no idea how much of an impact it would have on the Jewish community,” Raisman said of her 2012 gold medal-winning routine that included the music of Hava Nagila. “I received a letter from a Holocaust survivor saying she never imagined in her life seeing a young girl performing to Hava Nagila in front of the world and see her win for it.”
Raisman has become a face of the #MeToo movement following her testimony against U.S. Olympics gymanastics physician Larry Nassar, convicted for abusing at least 250 women. In an interview, Raisman told the New York Times that the attention has become overwhelming, including anti-Semitic attacks on social media.
Read more on JTA