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Stepping up to the plate without hesitation by doing all that we can to support Israel's right to exist should be every American Jew's self-discovered aspi- ration. I see the State of Israel as an essen- tial component of the international community. Israel is America's stron- gest ally in the region, and Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It continues to be recognized as a leader in the fields of technology, medicine and a multitude of other disciplines. Moreover, I support Israel because Israel serves as an uncondi- tional home for the Jewish people. With so much anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism in the world, I believe in the need for a Jewish state found- ed in liberty, in pursuit of justice and always open to all Jews. The deaths of Israelis Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach and Palestinian Mohammed Abu Khedair, which ignited the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas, give the current internecine Israeli- Palestinian relationship a new level of depth. The continuing rocket attacks coupled with the ground invasion to eliminate tunnels that had been dug from Gaza to Israeli kibbutzim with the intent to commit murder and terror only push both peoples farther apart. For peace, both Israelis and Palestinians must be interested in and dedicated to preserving a durable peace where both sides, bar-none, assure one another that no future conflict will be facilitated through the use of rockets, bombs or kidnapping and murdering of innocent citizens. During the 18-day nationwide search effort for the teens, many peo- ple around the world turned to social media, using #BringBackOurBoys in an effort to raise public awareness of the abduction. More recently, there was a surge of support from both American and Israeli teenagers, who became very invested in the #FreeGazaFromHamas movement. The enthusiasm and passion for these movements is admirable, and it is a testament to the ability of teens to bring about change in an adult world. One of the ways local Jewish teens in Michigan have focused their efforts in support of Israel is through the ZOAs Teens4lsrael group. Teens4lsrael engages local teens in a pro-Israel dialogue through events, discussions and other activities. As a teen, discussing tense and emotional geopolitical issues is uncomfortable, to say the least. Though engaging in an educated dialogue about the issues will help tomorrow's leaders to be well informed and comfortable standing up for what they believe in. This will lead to teens being able to adeptly direct their passion toward causes and issues that will shape the future. When Jewish teens found out about the kidnappings and later the ground invasion, they felt compelled to do all they could to support Israel and, by doing so, they set the prec- edent that teens will not stand idly by in the face of terrorism. It is essential to keep in mind the ramifications of the killing of young people, as Finance Minister Yair Lapid said, "When we bury a child, we bury the life he'll never have — we bury a wedding, the first cry of a baby, an entire Sabbath table that will never come to be." All of the things that would have come from these teenagers, are bur- ied with them. As the Jewish community eagerly awaits peace to come, it is pivotal to remember that it is our responsibil- ity to do all that we can to support Israel in its pursuit of protecting its citizens' safety and peace. ❑ Sam Kole, 16, of West Bloomfield is a ZOA Teens4lsrael Fellow.