KENWOOD — Yavneh Day School students are in Washington, D.C., today to support Israel in a rally at the Capitol.

        About 55 middle school students, parents and staff left Sunday night on an 10-hour bus ride to the 1 p.m. Israel Solidarity Rally, sponsored by major American Jewish organizations.

        “I feel very deeply about the issue in Israel,” said Tehila Wise, a 13-year-old eighth-grader from Amberley Village. “However I can show that (terrorism) needs to stop, I'm going to do that even if it involves 20 hours of driving for a two-hour rally.”

        Yavneh's eighth-graders usually culminate their school career with an annual trip to Israel in March. However, the trip was canceled this year due to security risks.

        “Because I had been to Israel so many times, it was extremely devastating because I love the land so much,” Tehila said.

        Suzette Fisher of Amberley Village organized the trip after she heard about another suicide bombing Friday. She and her two children are on the bus.

        “We felt there was no better lesson we could give our kids than to show them that if they can't be there, at least they can be in Washington to show Israel their support and to experience this democracy we live in,” Mrs. Fisher said.

        The local Jewish community and students have been deeply affected by events in Israel, so it's important to make this trip, said Cory Chargo, principal of Judaic Studies, who accompanied the students.

        “It's one of the darkest times in the history of Israel. People feel such a connection with Israel. It's very painful to see Israel and its citizens go through this,” said Mr. Chargo, who once lived there.

        Majed Dabdoub, president of the Islamic Association of Greater Cincinnati, said he would love to see people live in peace, but Israel “can't terrorize and butcher people and say "We want terrorism to stop.'

        “If terrorism is killing civilians, the Israeli government has been practicing on-ground terrorism every day for the last 53 years,” Mr. Dabdoub said. “In the last 10 days they've butchered more than 500 Palestinians, and they're still doing it on a daily basis. To stop terrorism, Israel needs to stop. Occupation is terrorism.”

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