EXCLUSIVE: Aija Mayrock: The Young Jewish Voice Turning Stories Into Global Movements

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Aija Mayrock was still in high school when she self-published The Survival Guide to Bullying, a book written by a teenager for teenagers navigating the painful experience she herself endured. Just a year later, it was acquired by Scholastic and became a bestseller, cementing Mayrock as a new voice for empowerment, resilience, and social justice.

Today, at 29, she is far more than an author. Mayrock is a spoken-word poet, motivational speaker, screenwriter, social entrepreneur, and one of the most influential young Jewish creators online. Through TikTok and Instagram, she has built a digital community where millions engage with her raw, honest reflections on identity, mental health, and Jewish life.

From Storytelling to Advocacy

“I’ve always been a storyteller,” she told JFeed in exclusive interview. “For me, storytelling is about shining a light on experiences people don’t always listen to, and helping them see the world in a better way.”

Her passion for human rights began early. Growing up, her father’s business took the family abroad for long periods.

“We spent time in Vietnam and Cambodia,” she recalled. “Learning about the wars and tragedies there, as a child, opened my eyes. It gave me a more honest view of the world.”

At Columbia University, she studied writing and business, later completing a master’s in business. But even before her academic journey, she was already shaping conversations around bullying and mental health. “I knew what I wanted to do, and I had already sold my first book,” she said.

A Voice Rooted in Jewish Identity

In recent years, Mayrock has become one of the most visible young Jewish voices online. Her series Jews Around the World has taken her to Tunisia, Mexico, Azerbaijan, and beyond, documenting diverse Jewish communities and their histories.

The project began in the aftermath of October 7, 2023. “I was on Columbia’s campus, seeing so much confusion about Israel and Judaism, something that enlarged the antisemitism in those places. I realized many people knew nothing about Jewish identity, history, or the diversity within it. That’s when I decided to start telling those stories.”

Her encounters have been intimate and eye-opening. In Williamsburg, Brooklyn, she was guided anonymously by a local Hasidic man who wanted to show her community life up close. In Tunisia, she highlighted the ancient Jewish community and its resilience. “We are all different,” she said, “but part of the same people.”

Beyond the Stage and the Screen

Mayrock’s career has already included appearances at the United Nations, the Microsoft Theater, and Madison Square Garden. She founded her own media company, Aija LLC, producing content on issues like bullying, women’s rights, and ageism.

But social media remains her most powerful stage. “I realized that the videos I was most passionate about, the ones I made on my phone, were the ones people connected with most,” she explained. “Social media became a way to tell stories directly, without waiting years for a book or TV show.”

Looking Ahead

Asked about her proudest achievements, she doesn’t point to awards or high-profile performances, but to her moments of growth.

“I’m proud every time I do something I didn’t think I was capable of,” she said. “Each new chapter is an adventure.”

Looking forward, she hopes to expand her media work and deepen her role as a storyteller.

“In five years, I want to be running my own company and continuing to tell stories that reach people globally,” she said. Her dream? “To live a life where I’ve squeezed every drop out of every opportunity.”

For Mayrock, Judaism remains a source of connection and inspiration, even if not rooted in strict religious practice. “I’m not deeply religious, but I feel profoundly connected to the Jewish people, communities, and culture,” she said. “When I travel, I always visit synagogues and try to get o know the communities. It’s my way of connecting.”

A Voice for Her Generation

Whether on stage, in print, or through a 60-second TikTok, Aija Mayrock’s work carries the same goal: to turn pain into purpose, and to use storytelling as a bridge across cultures, identities, and divides.

As she puts it simply: “People connect with passion, and when you create from that place, you can change how others see the world.”