Thank you all. Thank you to Danielle Green, Senior Class President, Headmaster Rabbi Philip Field, President Stephen Shapiro, members of faculty, families, members of the community. And members of Akiva Hebrew Academy's Class of 2003!

I am honored to be with you on graduation day as you seal off a very important chapter of your life, and begin fresh with new endeavors.

It is a pleasure to see over one thousand of your friends, family, and members of the Philadelphia Jewish community joins you today. The academic excellence you have achieved at Akiva Academy is no doubt in part to the support of everyone here. It truly takes a community.

But it is you, the students, who deserve the highest praise. When I heard about the achievements of this graduating class, I was truly amazed. Your test scores are some of the highest among all Delaware Valley Schools. Almost every one of you will continue your education in college. And you are a model for other day schools in the country.

Most of you have visited Israel before. And all of you have learned Hebrew and spent much time studying about Judaism. Many will spend next year there, before going to a university.

Omer, I am told that you will soon be back in Israel, fulfilling your duties in the Israel Defense Forces. We all wish you the best as you proudly serve your country.

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Yet beyond achievements that can be measured by numbers, each one of you possess qualities that make Akiva students stand out from the others: the dedication to your faith, your love for Israel, and your commitment to the values that strengthen our joint cause and our future.

Your graduation today is not the end of this path you have all set yourselves on. Rather, it is a significant marking point on a longer road ahead.

Rabbi Akiva, the name and inspiration of your school, did not have a formal Jewish education until he was 40 years old.

So, I would say that all of you, at more than half his age, have enormous potential!

Like the State of Israel, you are still young, but your principles and beliefs have matured you beyond your years. And like Israel, your strength comes from your faith, heritage, and steadfastness in the face of difficult challenges.

The greatest challenge facing Jews of your generation today is how to further your Jewish education, how to strengthen your ties with Israel, and most importantly, how to ensure the continuity of our people and our homeland.

The loss of Jewish identity is a growing problem throughout the Diaspora.

It is so important to remember your roots and never forget the importance of Israel as a state for all Jews.

Prime Minister Sharon has a clear vision for how Jews in America and elsewhere can continue being partners in developing the State of Israel and the state of the entire Jewish people. His goals are to support Jewish continuity by furthering Jewish and Zionist education; encouraging Aliyah and helping others to immigrate to Israel, and participating in the social and economic development of our nation, and strengthening the centrality of Jerusalem.

Despite the hard times Israel is living through, we helped over 60,000 new immigrants come to Israel over the past two years. And I hope that some of you will be among those counted in the years to come.

You will join your fellow Akiva alumni, who have reached every height of Israeli society, from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, to the Ministry of Education, the most prominent universities.even a detective and a dairy farmer.

For those that do not make Aliyah, I am certain that Israel will still remain an important place in your heart.

Israel represents the values that we as Jews should be proud of. Israel is the only democracy in the region-a quality that cannot be taken for granted in the Middle East.

And like America, Israel is threatened by extremist violence and ideology that aims at the heart of who we are, and all that we stand for.

Israel knows how to defend herself in war, and we will be just as courageous in peace, just like we have proven in the past by making peace with Egypt and Jordan. Yet, the future of peace with the Palestinians requires the defeat of terror.

As young adults entering a world where hate and bias still exist, you must be confident in standing up and saying that Israel has a right to live in her land, in security, free from violence; and Israel has a moral obligation to defend her citizens in the absence of such guarantees.

When God promised the land of Israel to the descendents of Abraham, there is no reference in the texts that he promised their journey would be easy.

And true to form, the journey has been anything but straightforward. But as Golda Meir once said, "Zionism and pessimism are incompatible." And thus, we as Jews never give up our hope-the name of our national anthem.

Israel will arrive at peace because it is the nature of our people to build a better world for our future generations. Whether through our personal conduct, or the policy of our nation, we practice one of Judaism's most noble values, tikkun olam-repairing the world.

In this mission, Israel and the United States are working closely together to advance the interests of peace in our area.

Both our governments demand that the Palestinian Authority put an end to terror, once and for all, by fully dismantling terrorist organizations and stopping all incitement and hate-filled rhetoric.

A Palestinian state will never be created with violence; and we will not allow their road to statehood to be stained with Israeli blood.

This is a decisive moment for the Palestinian leadership. Israel, the United States, and the world community, will judge the Palestinian Authority not on their words and declarations, but by their performance and real results.

Palestinian leaders can express their commitment to peace by showing their willingness to fight terror. Terror does not just kill Israelis; it hurts the interests of everyone in the region who yearns for a better future.

When we look at all that Israel has accomplished during her first 55 years, we can only imagine the tremendous possibilities that lie ahead if we bring real peace and security to our region.

Like Rabbi Akiva, your success as graduates of a distinguished high school also depends on your personal commitment to uphold the values dearest to you. Despite the adversity, despite the battles you will face, don't forget the words of Theodore Herzl, "If you will it, it is no dream."

Your families are behind you, the State of Israel is behind you, and I want to say to each and every one of you that you have great potential and I wish you the best. You are the future of the Jewish people; and watching from here, this future looks very bright and promising.

Congratulations once again. Mazel tov on this very special day.