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Speaking Out

Rally rouses teens behind Israel.

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Zoe Pinter and Corey Rosen at Shaarey Zedek

Gabriella Ring
Teen2Teen Staff Writer

I

sraeli flag bearers Zoe Pinter, 16, of
West Bloomfield and Corey Rosen,
17, of Farmington Hills greeted
rally-goers when they arrived.
The two Frankel Jewish Academy
juniors displayed patriotism, pride
and enthusiasm for the State of
Israel while hoisting Israeli flags. The
solidarity brought them to the rally
at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in
Southfield, they said, as well as seeing
other teens show the same support.
"It's [Israel's] the one place where
Jews can truly be safe. If we ever needed
to flee from our own country, we have a
place to go',' Corey said. "It's the center of
the Jewish religion. Israel is the chosen
land for God's chosen people.'
"It's our bloodline Zoe said.
Their support stemmed partly from
a trip they took to Israel in 2006 as
eighth-graders at Hillel Day School.
It was the "perfect culmination of my
Jewish education': Zoe said.
"It transferred learning from the
classroom:' Corey said, and Zoe finished
the sentence with "and [brought it] to
life."
Dovi Nadel, 16, of Southfield, a
Yeshivat Akiva sophomore, brought
his own handmade sign to the rally. It
read: Kol Yrael Chaverim. (All Jews are
bound together in fellowship.)
Dovi enjoyed the tremendous turnout
and organization of the rally. "I loved
the speakers, especially the pastor [Rev.
Kenneth Flowers];' he said.
Dovi recognized verses from the
Torah in parts of Flowers' speech and

liked how he integrated them.
Before ascending to the stage, Rev.
Flowers, pastor of Greater New Mount
Moriah Baptist Church in Detroit,
received a standing ovation.
"Love is stronger than hate; love will
ultimately prevail': Flowers said. "Israel
has the right to exist:'
Flowers spoke with great intensity
and emotion, leading Rabbi Joseph H.
Krakoff of Congregation Shaarey Zedek
to give Flowers a heartfelt hug as he
went back to his seat.
Later in the program, Zoe Pinter
waved the Israeli flag on the bimah
with friend Kendall Maxbauer, 17, of
Farmington Hills, an FJA senior, while
Rina Bergman, 17, of Farmington Hills,
also an FJA senior, sang "Shin
Rings theatrical background and par-
ticipation in choir landed her the oppor-
tunity. "It's my duty to support Israel. It's
my homeland. It's a place where all Jews
can come together and live together and
feel safe and accepted': Rina said.
She realizes that teens in America and
Israel face different issues. "I have no
idea what they're [Israeli teens] going
through': Rina said.
Her advice to teens there is "to stick
to together and support the country in a
non-violent way."
After graduating next semester,
Kendall will study for a year in Israel.
She had an urgent message for Israeli
teens: "Thank you so much for the pro-
tecting our homeland. I just hope they
are all successful in all endeavors, and
[for Israel to be] peaceful too."

Gabriella Ring, 15, is a sophomore

at Berkley High School.

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January 15

2009

A13