Today was the first day of the AIPAC Policy Conference. I attended various sessions that broadened my horizons on issues that Israel faces daily. We began our journey to becoming Israel activists by learning about the various policy issues that we will be speaking about when we lobby with congress and the senate on Tuesday.
In the opening ceremony Reverend DeeDee quoted Rabbi Abraham Jacob Heschel who said we need to “pray with our feet.” In Judaism, we know that we believe in the synthesis of prayer and action when faced in a time of terrible danger. Thus, the idea she focused on, which inspired me, was that Jews are living in scary times. Their homeland, Israel, is being threatened by Iran as it gains nuclear capabilities. We mustn’t be passive! The lobbying we are going to do in congress is our start of living a life by taking a stand.
We also learned about the great innovations Israel has developed, thereby impacting lives around the world. Mr. Dan Webb, a gentleman who tragically became paralyzed after an accident, demonstrated how life changing these innovations really are. After being told he would never walk again, Mr. Webb was proven wrong with the innovation of the “Re-Walk,” a device that assists paralyzed patients in walking and leg mobility.
In the news, we tend to only hear about the warrior side of Israel, but they fail to acknowledge how Israel is a growing and innovative country that works to change lives around the world.
Chelsea (left) smiles for a quick photo with two friends before a guest speaker Bob Diener, AIPAC national board members, addressed NCSY.
The point I felt AIPAC was stressing was that democrats and republicans come together for the greater cause – for the security of the state of Israel. But this point is just a small manifestation of what the AIPAC Conference is. Jews and non-Jews alike come together to not only show support, but to make a change in the world and protect Americas greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel.
Thank you Benjamin Lankin, fellow LEAD participant, for discussing my thoughts with him.
Chelsea Kornmehl,
Junior, Ilan High School, Marlboro, NJ
