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Manhattan school ‘stands with Israel'

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Two hundred Upper West Siders joined Manhattan Day School’s Stand With Israel event last week.

The MDS Eighth Grade Israel Advocacy Team presented “Israel Past, Present and Future: The True Story,” touching on misrepresented history, terrorist groups, the situation in Syria, biased media, BDS, and apathy.

“The people of Israel take tremendous pride in knowing that American students wholeheartedly stand in support of the State of Israel,” Israel’s Consulate General in New York, Ido Aharoni, told the gathering. “Your actions inspire us to continue creating and innovating for the betterment of mankind.” 

“I was moved by the obvious amount of work that your eighth graders poured into each of their presentations, as well as each student’s courage to present, so beautifully, in front of a full sanctuary,” said Shira Eisenberg, director of education for the Israeli-American Council. “We are thrilled to form a partnership with a school that so openly and endlessly supports Israel.”

The program helped raise awareness of the situation in Israel for community members who attended, and also had a powerful impact on the eighth grade presenters.

Robyn Samuels, mother of Charlie Samuels, student presenter of the biased media segment, observed that “reading the newspaper has so much more meaning for Charlie now. He seeks out articles about Israel and has become a more discerning reader. I’m thrilled to see how it has inspired his concern for Israel.”

“These eighth graders will be our future leaders and caretakers of our people,” said MDS art teacher Linda Kastner. “The program proved that Jewish education is still our most important investment.”

Rabbi Shaul Robinson of Lincoln Square Synagogue spoke about the Jewish state today and the MDS Middle School Choir performed.