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The envelope arrived. It was thick. My heart began to pound with excitement. I made the USA Maccabiah team! Every four years, similar to the Olympics, the best international Jewish athletes represent their countries and vie for a chance to win a gold medal. I would now get a chance to compete in the July 2001 games in Israel. I was proud to be considered one of the top soccer players my age. I remember visualizing myself walking into a packed and cheering stadium, carrying my country’s flag, with 5000 athletes from around the world. As I prepared for the games, however, there was an underlying unpleasant thought: The Middle East was in turmoil. As the months passed and my excitement escalated, so did the political turbulence in Israel. The country became more dangerous everyday. I stayed positiv