AIPAC - by Eliana Colman

On the eve of the holiday of Purim, it easy to make comparisons between the ancient story of Purim and modern day events. Esther appeared before the king without permission as Netanyahu appeared before Congress without permission from the president. They both were pleading the cause of the Jewish people who were being threatened by a man (Haman/Ayatollah) from (Persia/Iran). 

This weekend we were given the opportunity to attend one, if not the, most important events pertaining to the U.S. And Israeli relationship. 

We heard from senators, congressmen and speakers from a vast array of countries and political alignments. We also heard from people whose lives had been bettered by Israeli innovations and technology. 

The primary focus of the conference was debating the pros and cons of a deal with Iran. We heard many views about the issue and we were able to formulate our own opinions and our own ideas about how the US should approach the deal with Iran. 

We were fortunate to hear from major political figures including Congressman Lindsey Graham, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Suzanne Rice. 

We all agree that the greatest opportunity we were given was to hear from the Israeli prime minister Benjamin 'BiBi' Netanyahu. This once in a lifetime experience put a face to the man who fights and defends for the freedom and continuity for the Jewish people. One thing that stood out to us was when he stated that Israel is more than a state, it's a family. As this is the slogan of DKJA, we felt a strong sense of pride that this important figure carries the same beliefs as our school. 

Listening to Netanyahu's historical speech to Congress from only four blocks away was indescribable. Hundreds of people were crowded around the screen applauding and listening to the passionate words of Netanyahu. 

This experience is one we will remember for ever. Many of the speakers emphasized how important it is for students to be involved in fighting and supporting our people. We now look forward to attending future events to advocate for the State of Israel.