The below was written by Daniel Odrezin, a third year University of Alabama law student who will be joining the staff of The Birmingham Jewish Federation next August. Daniel, who spent a semester at Tel Aviv University's law school, is pictured here in Israel in a t-shirt that says Alabama in Hebrew.

By Daniel Odrezin

A few weeks ago, an interesting story appeared in Update that touched me personally. The piece, which ran in the days leading up to the Palestinian Authority's application for statehood before the United Nations Security Council, highlighted the Israel Action Network (IAN), a strategic initiative led by Jewish Federations of North America, The Birmingham Jewish Federation's parent organization, to counter assaults on Israel's legitimacy.

This summer, the IAN began circulating a petition opposing the PA's unilateral attempt to gain member state status at the UN. The statehood campaign, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, serves as the most recent example of the Palestinians' refusal to negotiate with Israel without preconditions and creates yet another roadblock in the path toward the peaceful two-state solution Israel desires.

On Sept. 20, the petition, accompanied by over 100,000 signatures, was presented publicly and sent to the 193 UN member states, and this effort was featured in Update.

AMONG THE 100,000

The IAN and this remarkable accomplishment made for a great Update story and certainly shed light on the Palestinians' counterproductive actions, but why was it particularly meaningful to me?

The answer is simple: among the more than 100,000 signatures attached to the petition was my own. A month earlier, in response to an e-mail I received, I had taken just a few seconds to add my name. At the time, it seemed like a small somewhat effortless act, but I quickly realized that my name, accompanied by so many others, had sent a resounding message of support for Israel to leaders in the US and the international community.

As I read the Update story I was overcome with a great sense of pride. I was proud to have joined so many supporters of Israel in lending my name to an effort I believed in, and I was proud to be associated with The BJF, an organization that was providing individuals with the opportunity to make their voices heard.

The IAN petition is an example of just one of the ways The BJF and other Jewish Federations provide support for Israel, especially in times of crisis. Perhaps more importantly, it was a demonstration of overwhelming support for the Jewish state, the only true democracy in the Middle East, from both Jews and friends of Israel who are not Jewish.

UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES

We in Birmingham are fortunate to live in a small but vibrant Jewish community that continues to stand with Israel as it faces unprecedented challenges. Not only do many give generously to The BJF and the organizations it helps to fund, but members of our community speak out publicly in support of the Jewish state and encourage our congressional delegation to do the same.

The IAN is providing us all with an additional opportunity to advocate for Israel. The IAN will continue to collect names for its petition until the UN votes on the Palestinians' unilateral statehood bid.

It is my hope that those who support Israel and its right to exist as a Jewish state will add their names to this effort to encourage negotiations without preconditions and to ultimately find the peaceful solution Israel has sought for more than 60 years.

The anguish over the price Israel is paying to get captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit back and the joy over his anticipated return are permeating Israel and the Jewish world. Perspective was offered by Rabbi Micky Boyden, a reform rabbi who lives in Israel who lost a son in combat in Lebanon.

Rabbi Boyden is co-founder of We Are For Israel, which describes itself as "centrist" and which was established to help people better understand Israel's difficulties and dilemmas. Seven Alabama rabbis along with other state leaders have endorsed this new group.

"The price that is to be paid for Gilad's freedom leaves all of us with a heavy heart," writes Rabbi Boyden. "There are those in Israel who oppose the deal. They rightly claim that it will strengthen the hand of Hamas....However, the IDF principle of not abandoning the wounded in the field of battle meant that Gilad could not just be forgotten."

Photo is of Gilad Shalit.