"Many people see the Hijab as just a head covering but it's really much more. I feel like I'm in a little safety bubble when I have it on." - Raya Al Weshah

Welcome back to another week of Dive Right In! In honor of our one year anniversary of Dive Right In Podcast next week, we have been working hard to put out a newsletter discussing our journey, what we have learned, and what is to come in the next couple of months! Please be sure to text, email, or DM us your email so that you can receive it in your inbox! This week, we speak with Raya Al Weshah, a Hijabi born in Jordan and now a sophomore at Beachwood High School, to talk about her experiences with Islamophobia and why she is passionate about being Muslim. Before we get into the interview, we address Yom HaShoah which translates to "Holocaust Remembrance Day", and it is when we take some time to remember each and every one of the lives lost during the Holocaust. Transitioning off from that important discussion, we acknowledge how even though Jews and Muslims are often pinned against each other in the media, this is definitely a stereotype and we are still able to learn about and celebrate the Muslim culture. We then welcome in Raya to introduce herself and talk about her story and heritage. She mentions that while she has never been a victim of outright Islamophobia, she has definitely heard micro-aggressions targeted at her because of her religion and because she wears a hijab. We then make sure to talk about the recent French legislation which prevents Muslim women and young adults from wearing a hijab and participating in basic activities and services. Raya talks about how this made her feel and the toll this took on the Muslim community worldwide. Thank you all for joining us this week, and we are excited to see you back next week for our One Year Anniversary!

Love,

Jackie and Hannah

Raya on Instagram: @rayaalweshah

Check out our Website: https://diverightinpodcast.weebly.com

Follow our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/diverightin

Twitter: @DiveRightIn2

TikTok: @DiveRightIn

Email: diverightinpodcast@gmail.com

Follow our Instagrams:

Podcast: @diverightinpodcast

Hannah: @hannah.plotkin

Jackie: @jackiespinnell