On Sunday March 22, about 700 people, mostly teens, gathered in the 85 degree heat and sunny Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, to rally in support of Israel.

Young Judaeans made up the majority of the crowd. We were busy holding up posters that read, "We support Israel," "Arafat- Stop the Violence!," or "Bring Our Boys Home." Many representatives were passing around petition postcards in support of bringing the MIAs (missing in action) home, addressed to Mr. Jakob Kellenberger at the International Committee of the Red Cross, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and President George W. Bush.

Those who signed the postcards were from youth groups such as USY, NFTY-UAHC, BBYO, B'nei Akiva, NCSY, JCCA, Young Israel, Tsofim-Tsabar, and Ramah. There were also students there from the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy and from the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, both in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Keynote speaker Rabbi Avi Weiss of the Hebrew Institute in Riverdale, New York, joined us at the rally and delivered an enthusiastic speech about the justice of Israel's activities and the need for American Jews to support its situation. The line that drew the biggest applause from the crowd was when he said there was no moral equivalent between violence that results in murder and violence that results from self- defense.

Rachel Fersh and Michael Buff, two teens who had each spent two months studying at the Alexander Muss High School Program in Israel spoke strongly in support of Israel. They included how safe they felt traveling the width and breadth of Israel during their program. They encouraged people to travel to Israel this summer and see the situation for themselves.

Young Judaea's Mazkir Leumi (national president) was attending the first rally since he returned from the Young Judaea Youth Solidarity Mission to Israel in February 2001. He said that only since returning from that meaningful trip did he truly understand the difference we are making by holding rallies such as this one. At the rally, he remembered when he and the other mission participants met with the parents of MIA Binyamin Avraham and told them how much we have been doing to support them and their son. Only at this rally did he truly feel connected to those people in Israel who need our support so badly at this time.

In between the speakers, there was spirited Israeli dancing and singing led by Audrey Katz. Ani V'ata (Me and You) and Oseh Shalom (Make Peace) were among the many songs keeping the crowd enthusiastic and on their toes. Israel's national anthem, Hatikva, was the closing song of the third successful youth rally for truth.

Hopefully, this rally will have a strong impact on legislators and others, due to its location and great turnout.

Rachel Sacks, age 18, is an active member of Young Judaea.