Get ready to support your homeland, because the Seaboard Region of Young Judaea is hosting the third Youth Rally for Truth in Solidarity with Israel. I cannot express just how excited I am for this rally. Having already attended a youth rally for truth in solidarity with Israel in Austin, Texas and having gone to Israel on a youth solidarity mission sponsored by Hadassah, I am more than ready to host a rally close to my home, in Washington, DC.

Besides simply showing our support of Israel, this rally will help speak out against the media's misrepresentation of recent events in the Middle East and will call on the Bush Administration to lift the State Department's travel advisory and will publicize the plight of Israel's missing in action.

Publicizing the plight of Israel's missing in action is, to me, one of the most important goals and messages of this rally. When I went to Israel on the Youth Solidarity Mission, (to see photos of the mission, click here) I was honored to meet with the parents of Binyamin Avraham. Binyamin Avraham is one of the three soldiers kidnapped in October near the Israel-Lebanese border. Speaking with his parents invoked many strong emotions in many of the participants on the solidarity mission. His innocent parents have had to suffer from the loss of their son for no apparent reason. They have no idea where their son is, or even if he is still alive. They asked us, as Americans, to publicize their story, in hopes of drawing national attention to their problem.

In hopes of fulfilling what Mr. and Mrs. Avraham asked of us, I am hoping and believe that this rally will be one of the most effective because of its location. Because this could be such a crucial rally, it is important that a lot of people come to support the cause. The rally will take place on Sunday, April 22 at 12 noon at the U.S. Capitol, north side. For more information, email me at YJneshikot@aol.com, or call the Young Judaea Regional Office at (301) 589-4889 or email yjudaeasea@aol.com. I hope to see you there!

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