Batavia youth will speak on Israel

Batavia High School senior John Peskind will speak on attitudes regarding Israel at his temple on Sunday, Nov. 9.

It isn't a class assignment. Peskind spent two weeks in Israel in June as part of the Write On for Israel program for high school juniors and seniors.

And at 17, he is the youngest of several directors of the Aurora Jewish Welfare Fund.

Peskind will discuss why young Jewish Americans should care about Israel at 10 a.m. Sunday at Temple B'nai Israel, 400 N. Edgelawn Drive, Aurora.

So, why should they care?

"It's hard to put into one sentence," Peskind said. "But Jewish Americans need to show that we won't change our unwavering support of the state of the Israel."

Peskind's talk commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Aurora Jewish Welfare Fund, and the state of Israel which was founded in May 1948.

He doesn't think that Americans have an accurate, unbiased view of Israel because he believes the media focuses on the violence and the conflict between Arabs and Jews. Peskind was one of 24 high school juniors who spent two weeks there in June.

"We met with political analysts, journalists and visited museums," Peskind said. "The highlight was getting to stay with a host family. I stayed with a family who lives near the border between Israel and the West Bank where many Palestinians live. We were near a Palestinian village.

"The average American sees only the events in the news," he continued. "We studied the reality. On a day-to-day basis, they (Jews and Palestinians) get along fine. Obviously, there is tension because of the political situation, but not in day to day life."

Peskind said his group also met with young Palestinians.

Write on for Israel is a two-year program open to exceptional high school juniors and is sponsored by the Jewish United Fund. It offers students instruction in Israeli history and policies, as well as writing editorials and speaking in defense of Israel.

Peskind was tapped for the job of co-director of the Aurora Jewish Welfare Fund in August because he is active in the Jewish community. The fund was created in 1948 to raise funds for the welfare of the Jewish community, but it also supports the broader community through giving to Hesed House and the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry.

If you go:

What: Presentation on why young Jewish Americans should care about Israel.

When: 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9.

Where: Temple B'nai Israel, 400 Edgelawn Drive, Aurora

Call: (630) 892-2450