Shabbat Shalom from Israel

Shabbat Shalom from Israel,

The last time I came home to Israel was October 16, 2023. Our people had been attacked. My colleagues at Jewish Federation of North America and I felt a deep responsibility to bear witness and bring a firsthand account back to our community in the United States. Through it all, I had faith that G-d would bring me back to my family safe.

This week, a little more than two years later, I was blessed to come home again to bear witness once more to the people and their stories. The ones who never asked for war. The ones who have lost sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. And perhaps most moving of all, the children, many born during COVID, who have never known a life without trauma.

Over the course of this visit, I have had in-depth conversations with Arab Israelis, Arab Palestinian Israelis, secular and Haredi Israelis, politicians, soldiers, social workers, trauma specialists, professors, and many others. Each story added another layer of understanding, complexity, and humanity to an already heavy and holy experience.

The purpose of my visit is to see and learn about the investments we make in Israel through our annual campaign. What I witnessed made me even more proud to work for our Federation and on behalf of our community. We fund schools and adult programs that promote coexistence. We have uplifted two generations of African olim in Yokneam. We are supporting the children of Megiddo and Nahal Oz with trauma-informed therapies that help bring them back to life through woodworking, cooking, music, and so much more.

I’m sometimes asked about what our dollars support in Israel. Does money go to the government? No. To the military? No. We are funding exactly what you hope would be there for you and your family if you were living through a war while trying to build a community for the next generation. We are lifting up education and social services programs. We are creating connections between citizens from different backgrounds. We are supporting victims of terror. We are investing in children. We are helping people heal. And in the coming weeks, you’ll read some of these powerful stories in the Jewish Light, thanks to Jordan Palmer joining this trip with our Israel and Overseas Committee.

My first trip to Israel was in 1997. Much has changed since then; the government, the landscape, the technology. What has not changed is the heart and resilience of the people. Although some hopes and dreams have been put on hold, replaced by a focus on survival and rebuilding, the essence of Israel – of the Jewish people – remains strong.

Before I arrived, I prayed for a sign that G-d was with me on this journey. When I checked into my hotel, my original room assignment of 625 had been changed to 1007. That was all I needed. A quiet reminder of faith, presence, and purpose, and of why being here mattered so deeply.

I share all of this because I want you, your family, and friends to come with us to Israel next winter break. Together with our trip chairs, Lori and Ryan Holtzman, and our many synagogue partners, we will travel to Israel to celebrate 125 years of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. This once-in-a-lifetime, multi-generational journey will bring our community home. Parents, grandparents, teens, and children will together explore our history, deepen relationships, and create lasting shared memories.

Judaism has never been meant to be experienced alone. Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh—we are responsible for one another. We grow strongest through shared moments, collective memory, and the bonds we build across generations. Designed for families with children ages 10 and older, this experience embodies l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation, ensuring that our stories, values, and love for Israel are passed forward together. More information is available here.

Israel has a way of revealing exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. I hope you’ll join us to walk its streets together, to strengthen our bonds as a community, and to write the next chapter of our shared story.