07/31/2024
Travel Blog: Young Professional Volunteer Mission to Israel
Participants on the Cleveland Young Professional Volunteer Mission to Israel spent eight days volunteering across the country, met with Israeli contemporaries to learn more about their lives, and experienced life in Israel post-October 7.
View photos from the mission and read about some of the participants' experience below:
by Allison Brandon
Since October 8th, 2023, I have felt such a pull to go to Israel. The Jewish Federation of Cleveland made that a reality for a group of us. Getting to Israel, hugging my people and my community was such an uplifting experience. The strength that the Israeli people have is unmatched. Hearing the people talk about their experience since the war started was heartbreaking. One thing I noticed all over Israel is the art that was created out of such tragedy. Hostage Square in Tel Aviv is in a plaza outside of the Museum of Art and is also strategically located outside the Israeli Defense Force headquarters. The square has art all over. From murals to installations, it brings hope and awareness to the people of Israel. Each piece of art represents the hostages and a story. In Sderot, right across the street from the police station, a huge mural represents the courage and strength of Israel. I am so inspired by the people of Israel and hope that peace will find us soon.
by Alexander J. Szaruga
I recently had the privilege of traveling to Israel with a group of young professionals from Cleveland on a Birthright Onward volunteer mission. This was my first trip to Israel and in some ways, it was stereotypical—I was on a Birthright trip, I ate falafel and iced coffee, we stayed in a hostel in Tel Aviv, we met and spoke with Israelis from many walks of life, and we got to see and experience. In other ways, though, it was atypical as far as first trips go—instead of sightseeing we came to give our time and energy to people who are in desperate need, and we came to bear witness to the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th, 2023 and to hear from survivors, former hostages, and the friends and family of people still being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas.
Our volunteering efforts were meaningful and impactful, but being able to connect with Israelis on a personal level during this trip was my favorite aspect of our group’s time in Israel. Through many conversations with Israelis on this trip I got the impression that there is a great deal of unity and focus on bringing the hostages home, but with significantly different—and often diametrically opposed—opinions on how to accomplish this goal. For example, one morning I heard from a political activist that Israel needs new elections immediately in order to bring home the hostages. Two hours later in Hostage Square I heard from a hostage advocate that the last thing Israel needs is new elections because doing so would pull focus away from the remaining hostages. Notwithstanding their differences in opinion, both of these people are working with focused zeal on bringing home the hostages and their dedication instilled within me hope for Israel’s future.
I would be lying if I told you that I left this trip feeling hopeful for peace, but I did leave with an incredible amount of hope in the Israeli people. Although there remains unfathomable amounts of trauma to heal and a great deal of financial support that must be filled, the Israelis I spoke with are resilient, tenacious, and determined and through this trip I have been filled with immense faith in the Israeli people and I have hope that they will be able to overcome the challenges they currently face. Am Yisrael Chai.
by Dena Warn
July 4th, typically a day we celebrate our freedom as Americans, this year I was Israel bound to help rebuild the lives of my people. My home land. A trip I only dreamed of.
I was met by many other eager young professionals from the Cleveland area that I now consider family along with our incredible tour guide, Yoni. We’ve been through the intensity of Hostage square and the Nova site together. We cried, we sang, we listened, we went to bear witness.
We started our week long mission in Afula helping run a fun day for children as we were listening to stories of evacuees and how they’re coping. I colored with a beautiful 9-year-old girl named Maya. We ate popsicles and cotton candy. The art project is now hanging in my home. Next, we went to Kissufim, a devastated Kibbutz in the South where hostages were taken and blood was shed. A pool area where families should be enjoying summer was debris filled and avocados were waiting to be picked. Standing at the door step of Shlomo Mantzur’s home, it’s hard to describe the intense feeling of pain standing on the same dirt that Hamas stood to capture our brothers and sisters.
Nova. So, so many beautiful souls gone too soon. We sang Hatikva, all I could do was cry. We met two soldiers in Sderot straight out of Gaza and their beautiful Savta who was showing us love from her balcony where bullet holes were clearly present. We then went to Leket Israel to help pick Kohlrabi, and it felt good knowing there were almost none left for us because so many other volunteers had been there. We got our hands dirty and picked weeds to help more crops grow.
Our last day, and one that I will personally never forget was a parking garage warehouse where we packed food for the needy with Pitchon Lev. I was paired with an elderly man that volunteers regularly, Avi. His strength and work ethic are like none other. Of course making sure we stayed hydrated and even offered me my first Choco Bsakit! I was the last one to leave the parking lot because he pulled me in for the most supportive hug as I shed a tear and smiled when asked when I’m coming back.
Avi, I’ll be back. I didn’t do enough. But, I do know that the people are so appreciative of our efforts. Never have I felt more seen. The most incredible experience of my life.
We will dance again.
by Doovie Jacoby
We spent our first full day in Israel getting acquainted with the people of Israel, especially in this unique and difficult time in our nations history. Our tour guide Yoni, encouraged us to engage the people and ask questions to everyone we encounter.
We began our day by meeting five women representing different segments of Israeli society. Mari represented the Yemenite Jews. She immigrated to Israel with her family through the multiple IDF missions to bring our extended mishpacha to our home land. We discussed the highs and lows of integrating into Israeli culture and what the future looks like for more Jews to immigrate to Israel. Odeya represented the Israeli settlers. She advocated for Jews to have the freedom to settle all of our ancestral homeland. Moira represented the Arab Israel citizens. While C was certainly happy to be living in Israel, she was advocating for more right and equality for her community. Rachel represented the religious community in Israel. We had a lively discussion with regards to a mandatory draft for chareidim. Hadas represented the non religious left wing liberal resident of Tel Aviv. She shared many opinions on everything in Israel especially with regards to the hostages currently being held in Gaza. She felt strongly that sending the government to an election would be the most strategic way to take action as layman to help bring back our hostages.
Then we made our way to hostage square where we got to hear from Noa, who is the best friend of Ziv and Gali Berman who are currently held hostage in Gaza. Noa, who was in San Francisco on Oct. 7th., shared her experiences of what the day was like for her being so far away and losing her friends while feeling helpless. In the days following, she scrambled to get back to her home country to do everything she could to help the devastating situation. Since then, she has dedicated her life to spreading the story of Ziv and Gali so people can feel more personally connected and be more motivated to bring them home now!
We ended our day at the Tel Aviv International Synagogue. Together with over 150 of our Jewish brethren from every background imaginable we welcomed in Shabbat with wonderful July 4th themed tunes.
As I reflect about this day, the most fascinating thing about listening to so many different people and hearing their views, was how strongly each one thinks they are correct. At times, the same idea can be spun as a positive or negative depending on who you are speaking with. For example, while Hadas felt that sending the government into elections would put pressure on the prime minister to get a hostage deal right away and help bring the hostages home, Noa felt that it would distract from the focus and pressure that the current government feels to bring them home. But the unity and heartfelt passion that everyone we met felt towards the hostage situation was inspiration that I took home with me. The added Psalms we recite daily as a merit to “Bring Them Home” has more meaning and feels more personal. With the help of Hashem, this will all be over soon and we will merit the rebuilding of Jerusalem!
