I wanted the world to see that it did not matter if we were a bunch of random teenagers on a summer tour. We are Jews that celebrate together and mourn together, and when we see fellow brethren cry, we cry with them. 
Eighty Jewish teenagers from across the United States and Canada on a tour of Israel decided to scrap their plans on Wednesday, in order to join the thousands of people who descended on the home of Ehud Goldwasser after his fate became clear. The youths describe the powerful, life-changing experience of coming face to face with the wordless Jewish unity that is part of life in Israel.
The 80 teens are in Israel to take part in the The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ), a summer program of the Orthodox Union's National Council of Synagogue Youth. TJJ is specifically tailored for North American public school students, in grades 9 through 12, who in many cases have limited contact with Jewish observance and who may not have been to Israel before.
On Wednesday, the group was slated to have a day of various outdoor activities that included such things as hiking and a Color War; however, they decided on a change of plans when they watched the wide-screen TV in the Kibbutz Kinneret guest house lobby that morning. Images of the delivery to Israel of the coffins of kidnapped soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser overwhelmed the teens and their advisors, and they immediately decided to go to Nahariya to pay their respects at the home of Edud Goldwasser’s wife, Karnit.
By Wednesday, the youths had been touring northern Israel for several days and they had discussed with their advisors the painful exchange of several terrorists for what was widely expected to be the bodies of two Israeli soldiers. However, as one of the teens, Gwenn Barney of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, wrote after visiting the Goldwasser home, "Before this moment, Ehud had just been a conversation piece, a person in no way connected to me."
Rabbi Barry Goldfischer, an immigrant from New Jersey and the Director of TJJ in Israel, said, "Watching on television was the catalyst. It was not a day for hiking or biking, but to connect with the Jewish people because the country was in mourning."
Upon descending from the bus, the North American teens were swamped by journalists, pressed with questions, cameras and microphones. TJJ participant Talia Sehayik of Jupiter, Florida, commented that the reporters "were surprised that these teens took the initiative and cared enough to show their support for Ehud, who died in honor of the land."
Claire Lee Miller, from West Palm Beach, Florida, wrote later, "I was glad that there were news cameras around. I wanted the world to see that it did not matter if we were a bunch of random teenagers on a summer tour. We are Jews that celebrate together and mourn together, and when we see fellow brethren cry, we cry with them."
Upon their return from Nahariya, the teenagers wrote compositions describing their thoughts and emotions. So moved were the directors of the OU, they decided to release some of the students' essays as a statement to the media. The students had an "awakening of their Jewish souls - even beyond what normally transpires in the month-long TJJ program," the OU statement noted.
Selections from some of the high school students' essays follow:
Maya Shor of Great Neck, New York wrote: "Seeing the tears and numerous cameras, I was speechless. All of Israel had come together from near and far to offer support. I felt honored to be in Israel at such a time to offer my support. Israel and I gave support to all of the numerous families. As I walked through the blurry crowd of reporters, I realized the undeniable love present in this land. Being in Israel, I witnessed how every citizen is part of a very large family. I was with my family and I had been able to mourn for my two bothers."
Alexander Schneider of Newton, Massachusetts noted: "The entire country came together to mourn in Israel, as throughout the Jewish community there is a feeling of responsibility and dedication to individuals. In Judaism, we celebrate the achievements of our neighbors and mourn when issues befall one of the members of our community. The ideal is stated simply: 'Kol yisrael areivim zeh l'zeh.' All Jews are responsible for one another. That is the reality of Israel - in such a small country, the news comes alive and affects everyone. Even a bunch of American NCSYers."
Benjamin Preis of Pittsburgh wrote: "While I never knew Ehud Goldwasser, today, it didn’t matter. Today, when I stepped off the bus to light a candle in his memory, I felt as close to him as if he had been my brother. I was saddened by his loss.... But more than that, I was connected. Even though I had never met the soldiers, as Jews, we are all connected. No matter where you are in the world, if you are Jewish, you have a connection to every Jew there is."
Michael Francus, also from Pittsburgh, heard "a profound message" from Rabbi Goldfischer: "The message became lucid and simple: brotherhood. Whether you are in the abyss of Entebbe, the depths of Russia or across the border in Lebanon, if you are Jewish, the Jewish nation and the Jewish state will come to your aid. We proudly raise our moral banner to the heavens and even through trades with the devil we do not falter nor abandon our ideals. This kinship, for unknown brothers and undiscovered friends, universally defines us as a people and a nation. And for this reason, we will thrive."
'Even though I had never met the soldiers, as Jews, we are all connected.' -- Benjamin Preis
Nina Breen of Seattle, Washington wrote: "As I light a yartzheit candle, a new emotion comes over me. Not one of anger or pain, but instead an emotion of love and a slight bit of hope for the future. No matter what tragedy may occur the nation of Israel stands together and is always there to take the action, yet even more so it is there to comfort. It’s on days like today that I realize how important and even more how proud I am to shout: I AM A JEW!"
Esther Tsvaygenbaum, from Albany, New York, commented: "Hazak, hazak. Be brave, be strong. Hazak, hazak. We will go on. The family of Israel will unite once again and continue to be a strong people. No matter what, this bond of love is everlasting. I stand as one with Israel; this beautiful nation will live on."
Dayna Rothman of New Haven, Connecticut, placed the visit to the Goldwasser home in perspective: "Despite everything this country has gone through, the hardships and the happy times, we always pull through and stick together. Every experience I have encountered here in the last two weeks has instilled in me a feeling of family. People care for one another, and as unfortunate and heartbreaking as this event was, I am glad I was in Israel when it happened so that I was able to pay my proper respects to Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev."