teen 2 teen e;veereu JEWELERS 111P1' S Turn your old GOLD into CASH! We will buy ALL of your precious metals, diamonds & watches. Standing For Israel Akiva students bring advocacy skills back from AIPAC summit. Come see us Today. 32940 Middlebelt Rd. (At 14 Mile Rd. in the Broadway Plaza) (248) 855-1730 Farmington Hills, Michigan www.greis.com DESIGNS IN DECORATOR WOOD & LAMINATES, LTD r..,--....-- «..-_-,... ,,......_„ Handl Michel Shamayeva Teen2Teen Writer A iter • Doesn't Have To Cost A fortune... Only Look Like It! Complete kitchen and bathroom remodeling as well as furniture design and installations including granite, wood and other materials. Lois Haron Allied Member ASID 248.851.6989 "Thank you to everyone for your voting me Best CPA and for your continued support!" IN a U ~ Ns t3est Lawrence H. Kohlenberg Otelfgei-. 2013 CPA, CFP 31313 Northwestern Highway Suite 101 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-865-3300 Fax lkohlcpa@aol.com 248-865-9660 1884280 26 December 19 • 2013 Rabbi Yochanan Shrader of Akiva; Ami Nadiv and Sam Kole of Frankel Jewish Academy, who were also on the trip; and Akiva students Ezra Mendelson, Ryan Martin, Aviva Movsas and Michal Shamayeva s November began, four students from Akiva Hebrew Day School in Southfield were given the opportunity of a life- time to attend AIPAC's Schusterman Advocacy Institute High School Summit in Washington, D.C. Rabbi Yochanan Shrader, head of the beit midrash (chapel) at Akiva, chaperoned 11th-grade students Ryan Martin, Ezra Mendelson, Aviva Movsas and Michal Shamayeva. AIPAC, a bipartisan, nonprofit organization, empowers pro-Israel activists across all ages, religions and races to be politi- cally engaged and build relationships with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to promote the U.S.- Israel relationship. This highly selective three-day conference sponsored students from diverse backgrounds to unite and study the current situations occurring in Israeli and Middle East politics. Sessions included topics about Iran's nuclear program, the crisis in Syria, threats from Hezbollah and Hamas, instability in Jordan, and the impor- tance in engaging Congress and candi- dates in pro-Israel advocacy. "As a student attending a Jewish day school, I didn't really think that the Schusterman High School Summit would be enlightening," said Ezra Mendelson of West Bloomfield. "Once I got there, I immediately knew I was wrong. I learned things about Israeli and American politics that I never would have learned otherwise:' After an intense two days of lec- tures and learning about the U.S.- Israel relationship, students were taken to Capitol Hill to meet with senators, representatives and policy advisers to lobby in honor of the State of Israel. "Going to the conference really informed me on the American and Israeli alliance, and what I can do to help," said Ryan Martin of Sylvan Lake. "The fact that I was able to lobby to my member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, made me feel as if I was contributing and making a change:' For me, lobbying about prevent- ing Iranian nuclear weapon capabil- ity, providing foreign aid support to Israel, strengthening the U.S.-Israel strategic partnership and Israeli- Palestinian peace talks showed me that we shouldn't just love Israel, but we should actively support it and take a stand for what we believe in. Students came back from Capitol Hill feeling pride for supporting Israel and realizing the impact that it makes on our government's policies. Israel would not be the same country it is now if it were not for the support of Congress. "AIPAC connected me with other Jewish teens around the country who share a passion for Israel," said Aviva Movsas of Southfield. "I learned so much from this summit, and it inspired me to bring home the mes- sage of support for Israel." ❑