May 13th, 2004
The theme of the kitas at this years Spring was...Israel! I enjoyed
it so much and learned some new stuff too. NERUSY's New Israel/
Programming VP is Providence's Becky Mer, so this upcoming year
is sure to be an awesome one! Also, Hechalutzim members were
honored with small gifts on the Sunday of Spring- yet another
reason to join. So that's Israel in terms of USY for the week. 
Tomorrow, Friday, is the secular anniversary of Israel's independence.
Hearing one of Schindler's Jews speak today reminded me that those who
experianced these huge world-altering events firsthand are quickly
dying out. Ask a grandparent, neighbor, someone who was around on
May 14, 1948 to tell you about it and how they felt. 
It's been a bad week in Israel, my friends. This week we remember
Adaron Amar, 20, of Eilat, Aviad Deri, 21, of Maale Adumim, Ofer
Jerbi, 21, of Moshav Ben-Zakai, Ya'akov Marviza, 25, of Kibbutz
Hama'apil, Kobi Mizrahi, 20, of Moshav Mata, Eitan Newman, 21, of
Jerusalem, Elad Cohen, 20, of Jerusalem, Aiman Gadir, 24, of Bir
Makhsur, Avivv Hakani, 23, of Ashdod, Za'ur Smelev, 19, of Ofakim,
and Lior Vishinski, 20, of Ramat Gan. These twelve were killed over
the course of 2 days, the 11th and the 12th. Read their names and
please remember they were real people, with family and friends and
lives too, that they're not simply more numbers for more statistics.

ISRAEL FACT OF THE WEEK: The glue on the back of Israeli postage
stamps is kosher.

Amy Schultz
Co-Israel Affairs Vice President
Natick USY