By Jonathan Allen, Grade 10
Part of being a Scheck Hillel student means I am an Israel advocate and have had a love of Israel always instilled within me, leading to my involvement in Israel advocacy.
I have gone to AIPAC's Policy Conference and attended Rabbi Uri Pilichowski's weekly Israel advocacy meetings on Thursday afternoons at school. Through my Israel advocacy efforts at Scheck Hillel, I have met many members of Congress and people influential in advocating for Israel. On Sunday, December 15, I had the chance along with fellow Scheck Hillel students to go to the house of AIPAC board members Carlyn and Lothar Mayer, who hosted Congressman and House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD). It was a real privilege for our group to be invited, and we are grateful to the Mayers and AIPAC for the opportunity.
Congressman Hoyer spoke about his many trips to Israel and the critical need for Israel's existence. Turning to our group, he spoke about the importance for youth to get deeply involved in advocacy. He talked about America's shared values with Israel and the current threats that Israel faces. He spoke about Israel's need for a two-state solution. Congressman Hoyer wrote a resolution to further sanctions on Iran but backed out just a few days ago; he explained that he trusts current inspections on Iran and there's no reason to take any further steps now because we can enact new sanctions right away. He said, if Iran "continues doing the ropey dope" and delaying steps to stopping their nuclear program, there will be further sanctions taken and military actions will always be on the table.
Israel advocacy is about more than being proud of and visiting Israel. It’s about opportunities like this to dialogue with global leaders and to educate peers and community friends about Israel. As a Jewish teen growing up in the United States, I’m grateful for such opportunity.