Meet the Educator behind Speak Up Jew

You probably recognize Moran Goldschmidt as the outspoken activist in the orange Batman shirt, combatting antisemitism from her Instagram platform @speakupjew. But what you might not know is she’s also an educator who inspires kids across the globe with her weekly interactive storytime.

An Israeli-Canadian currently based in Miami, Moran is a speech-language therapist and literacy specialist with a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Columbia University. Moran’s life has long embodied the theme of speaking up—first with her speech therapy background, and now extending to her online activism where she stands up for the Jewish community to more than 20,000 followers and counting.

But Moran’s advocacy work doesn’t stop there. Recognizing a need after October 7, she began offering a bilingual early childhood storytime that’s become a cherished source of light, connection, and Jewish pride. Every week, over 100 children from Israel and more than 15 other countries tune in live for Moran’s interactive story highlighting Jewish holidays, beloved books, culture, values, and more. And the best part? It’s free.

I was excited to connect with Moran and dig deeper into her advocacy work, her upcoming storytime tour in Israel, and of course…the topic of Ms. Rachel.

Leah Grossman: Hi, Moran! You’ve been an impactful voice for the Jewish community since October 7. Were you involved in Jewish advocacy prior to this?

Moran Goldschmidt: Before October 7, I was a mom, a speech-language therapist, and a child educator working with hundreds of children in Florida each week. After October 7, I felt called to action. I didn't want to sit idly by in America watching the horrors unfold. I wanted to do my small part to bring a little light into the darkness.

So I started a free storytime to teach and inspire children in Israel and around the world. Over time, I realized that working with children also meant being their advocate. Whether it's helping them find their voice, supporting them through difficult times, or speaking out when hatred affects their lives, I believe our children deserve adults who are willing to stand up for them.

LG: I’m sure you’ve had to endure plenty of hate online, but you consistently speak up on important issues with clarity and conviction. Where does your chutzpah come from?

MG: I'm Israeli, so chutzpah is in my DNA. I'm also the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. Growing up, I often wondered what I would have done during that dark time. Would I have hidden, fought back, given up, or helped others? On October 7, I felt compelled to do something. In the grand scale of a war, a storytime may seem small, but it's my way of bringing light into the darkness.

I also wanted my own two children to see that their mother didn't sit silently while hatred against Jews spread around the world, and I wanted my students to know that someone had their back. Speaking up wasn't about becoming an activist or an influencer. It was about accepting a responsibility that history placed in front of me and making both my grandparents (z’l) and my children proud.

LG: You wear an orange Batman shirt in all your videos—this is a lovely tribute to the Bibas family. Tell us about your decision to make this your regular appearance.

MG: The orange Batman shirt began as a tribute to Ariel, Kfir, and Shiri Bibas (z’l), but over time it came to represent something much bigger. It's a tribute to every child whose life has been forever changed by this war—the children who were murdered, taken hostage, evacuated from their homes, orphaned, traumatized, or forced to grow up too quickly. When I wear the orange Batman shirt, I remind myself—and the world—that our children matter. They deserve peace, love, joy, and compassion, just like every other child on Earth.

 

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LG: You’ve been vocal about Ms. Rachel’s hypocrisy and double standards when it comes to Jewish and Israeli children. For parents who might not be aware of Ms. Rachel’s antisemitic track record, what do you (as an educator) want them to know?

MG: My concern with Ms. Rachel is that she has a platform with more followers than there are Jews in the entire world, and whether she intends to or not, the misinformation and vilification she shares about Israel has real-world consequences for my community. Words matter. The rhetoric we see online has consequences in the real world, where Jews are increasingly being harassed, attacked, and vilified on campuses and in cities around the globe.

I want to make clear that I applaud her compassion for children in Gaza. Every child deserves compassion. What I struggle to understand is why that compassion never seems to also extend to Jewish children—the children kidnapped by Hamas, murdered on October 7, or still living under the threat of terrorism and war. If she chooses to advocate for children in Gaza exclusively, she should also be willing to acknowledge the role Hamas has played in their suffering. Too often, the blame is placed exclusively on Israel. Since Hamas launched this war on October 7, 2023, she has mentioned Hamas fewer than a handful of times while spending the last two years relentlessly criticizing and vilifying Israel.

LG: For those who may respond to this claiming you only care about Jewish and Israeli children, can you preemptively set the record straight?

MG: I believe ALL children deserve love, peace, safety, and education. In my practice and free online storytime, I welcome children from every language background, religion, culture, and country. I have even offered to invite children from Gaza to storytime and, while I don't speak Arabic, I would gladly work with a translator to facilitate their participation.

As a Jewish mother and educator, I simply refuse to accept a world where Jewish and Israeli children's pain is ignored, minimized, or justified. That's why I've chosen to dedicate my time to making them feel seen, valued, and loved.

 

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LG: Most people know you from your online activism, but they might not know about your work as an educator. How did your weekly storytime come about?

MG: On October 9, 2023, I sat in my home in Miami horrified by what was unfolding in Israel. I asked myself a simple question: What can I do right now to help bring a little light into the darkness? I'm not a soldier or a politician, and I wasn't even in Israel. But I am a child educator, and I know how to teach, inspire, and connect with children.

So I opened Zoom and invited children sitting in bomb shelters to join a free bilingual English-Hebrew storytime. What began with just five children joining from their shelters has grown into a global community of more than 3,000 families. Today, over 100 children join each week from Israel and 15 countries around the world, from Brazil to South Africa. Participation can jump to 300 children or more during wartime school closures.

LG: Tell us about the importance of Jewish education for ages 3-10, and why you choose to offer your storytime for free.

MG: Early childhood is when children develop their sense of identity, belonging, and self-worth. If we want proud, resilient Jewish adults, we must first nurture proud, resilient Jewish children.

I offer the program free of charge because I want every child to have the opportunity to learn with me, regardless of where they live or their family's financial circumstances. Jewish education in the Diaspora can be incredibly expensive, and I never want cost to be a barrier to connection, learning, or Jewish pride.

LG: You have a summer tour coming up in Israel. What can you tell us about it?

MG: For nearly three years, I've had the privilege of teaching and supporting hundreds of children through a screen. This July, I hope to finally meet many of these children in person through my Stories of Light Tour. Some have been joining storytime since they were sitting in bomb shelters during the week of October 7, and over time they've become like family to me.

This free tour is my way of showing up for them. It's an opportunity to visit communities across Israel, bring children joy and connection, thank families and soldiers for their sacrifices, and remind them that they are loved. If any readers know of community centers, reserve families, children's organizations, or other groups that would benefit from a free storytime in July, please connect us. You can reach me on Instagram @speakupjew or by emailing [email protected].

LG: What’s your greatest hope for the future of your weekly storytime, and how can we support you?

MG: My greatest hope is that every Jewish child grows up knowing they are loved, valued, and never alone. I envision Stories of Light becoming a trusted home for Jewish children around the world—a place where they can learn, laugh, grow, and feel proud of who they are.

The best way to support the mission is to help me reach more children. Share the storytime with a family, school, or community that could benefit. And if you know educators, community organizations, children's programs, or anyone passionate about early childhood education, I would love an introduction.

I truly believe our children are the light. Every child who joins is another ray of light, and together we can create a light so strong that it outshines the darkness.

Keep up with Moran on Instagram, and subscribe to her storytime channel on YouTube.

If you have a child between the ages of 3 and 10, you can register for Moran’s weekly online storytime here.

A version of this article originally appeared on The Times of Israel Blogs.