My dad texted me one week before the March For Israel in Washington, D.C., asking if I wanted to come with him. Although I would be missing school, I realized that this was an event I couldn’t miss. I needed to be there to stand for the people of Israel and the Jews all around the world. I knew that by coming to this event, I would be making an impact and becoming part of history. This is why, on Monday, November 13th, I boarded a plane from Austin to D.C. It would be my first time there, and I was very excited. After spending the night exploring the city, we went to sleep, preparing for the historic day to come. 

The first thing that I did that day was attend the BBYO meetup, where I got to see new and old friends and get snacks. Then we all walked over to the pre-rally together! We were there early enough that we had a really close-up spot with a great view of the stage. The pre-rally itself was so impactful. I loved seeing Courtney Saxe speak, and she did a great job of being the leader of the whole event. It was also so cool to see such great performers. Then, the main event started; this was meaningful in so many different ways. I loved all the different signs that people had made to show their own personal support. The survivors and people with loved ones being held hostage really showed me that it was so important that I was present to stand in solidarity with all of those families. Those stories are something that I have really taken to heart, and I have been thinking about ever since. In my own community, survivors spoke; the most impactful for me was a 14-year-old girl who lost her dad, and her cousin is still being held captive. The fact that people had to experience this terror pains me. 

Overall, I think that it was a super important event, and I am so glad that I was able to attend. It showed me just how much the Jewish people are capable of and that we are not afraid to stand up. It also helped me to share the conflict with my non-Jewish friends and get their attention on the issue. It is a subject that I am so passionate about, and I am not afraid to stand up for the hostages or even face the anti-semitism at schools. #BringThemHomeNOW