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Tehilla Ziegler
Gush Etzion Regional School
Alon Shvut, Israel

                           Israel, My Home Forever

   I was born in Israel to parents who made aliyah from America, and I live in a town
called Alon Shevut. In this essay, I would like to describe my feelings and thoughts about
the war in Gaza, and about life in Israel. I would like to begin with why I think that living
in Israel is very important.

   First, I believe that every Jew should live in the place that was given to us by God.
Second, because so many people want to live here and think that this is their land, we
have to show them that we won't leave, even if it means endangering our lives. This
land is ours, and is the land that our ancestors lived on. Therefore, we will stay here and
prove to everyone that we deserve a land and a place that symbolizes our nation.

   Finally, I believe that if all Jews would live together in the same land, we would all
serve God better, and be more of a united nation. I think this is what God wants of us
and this is the way He wants us to fulfill His will.

   In the past few weeks, it has not been easy to live in Israel. Three weeks ago, our
soldiers were called up to the army. They were told that a war was about to begin in
order to stop the rockets that Hamas has been shooting at us, and in order to rescue
Gilad Shalit, a kidnapped Jew who Hamas is holding captive. When I say that it hasn't
been easy for us, I don’t mean me personally, because I live in the center of the country
where it is safe. What I mean to say is that we all feel very close to our Jewish brothers
and sisters who live in fear, day and night, of getting hit by a rocket.

   Living in Israel at a time like this is very meaningful because we all feel so connected
to each other. My friends have brothers who are soldiers, my teachers have sons who
are soldiers, and many of our neighbors are soldiers too. (My four brothers are younger
than me.) One evening, during the war, people came from the town of Sderot to try to
sell their goods. They had not sold anything in more than two weeks, because rockets
were being shot at them from Gaza relentlessly. Over two hundred people from our
community came to buy Sderot’s goods. During these difficult times, we all care about
each other and just try to help one another, and I really feel united and part of something
special. Every night at dinner, my family says psalms together for the safety of the
soldiers. We sent packages with candy and toys to the children in endangered areas.
We also sent meaningful letters and food to our brave soldiers. I think that doing this
definitely made a difference and gave our soldiers strength.

   I wish that, in this war, no innocent people had gotten hurt, including innocent Arabs!
They have the right to live, just as the innocent people of our nation have the right to
live. And it really upsets me that some Jews don't agree with me.

   I hope and I pray that we will not have to go through any more wars, and that we will
live in peace with all other countries.