I traveled to Israel this past February not simply as a visitor, but as a witness. Sponsored by a generous grant from the UJA Federation of New York and supported by the Westchester Jewish Council (WJC), this mission was a profound journey through a nation’s collective grief, its tireless spirit of volunteerism, and its unbreakable resolve.
I would like to thank everyone who so generously donated toys and art supplies for children in Israel. Your gifts reached two very special places: a shelter for battered women in Beit Shemesh and children from underprivileged families at a Mutat Gilat. Your kindness brought comfort, creativity, and moments of joy to those who need it most.
I was one of nineteen Executive Directors from Westchester and Long Island on this journey. Though we represented the full spectrum of Jewish practice, Modern Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist, we traveled as a single unit, bound by a shared purpose.
The Raw Reality of Human Loss
Our journey began on Sunday, February 15. We were met by our guide Carrie and bus driver Ronnie, and headed into Tel Aviv, which felt fundamentally changed. We had intended to visit “Hostage Square,” but in a bittersweet turn of events, it had been dismantled following the return of the last hostage.
That evening, at Goshen Restaurant, the “political noise” of the conflict vanished. We sat with the parents of Tal Shoham, who had spent 505 days in captivity. Hearing their story stripped away the headlines and replaced them with the raw, human reality of a family’s agonizing wait. It was a somber, grounding start that set the tone for the days to follow. This was not a tour; it was an encounter with a wounded but resilient soul.
Art as a Canvas for Trauma
Monday brought a shift from witnessing to doing. At Social Delivery, we folded clothes for the needy families- a simple act, yet it felt like a tangible way to say, “We are standing with you.” To donate to Social Delivery, click here.
Later, in the Florentin neighborhood, Leah, our graffiti artist, took us on a tour. We learned that for this art to be considered graffiti, it must be done illegally and in public. This street art has become a megaphone for national trauma.
We met Daniel Gradus, CEO of Project 24, who showed us a piece of art that I will never forget: Lifeline by Adi Drimer. It is a mandala composed entirely of the WhatsApp messages sent within Kibbutz Re’im during the October 7th attack.
A tangible way to help Israelis rebuild their lives is by purchasing wine from affected regions. Learn more about the program- It’s a Date! A Wine-Win for Israel, or by making a donation.
Before the day ended, we met with Mirit and her colleague Adi Malka from Dror Israel, a grassroots organization that is strengthening the education system in Israel. They help border communities most affected by the Gaza war to heal, renew, and rebuild, as Israelis seek to return to their “normal” lives. Their mission: what we build, we don’t give up. To donate to Dror Israel, click here.
Defiant Optimism: The Gaza Envelope
On Tuesday, February 17, the landscape turned somber as we traveled south toward the Gaza Envelope. At Moshav Netiv HaAsara, we met Rivka, who recounted the harrowing details of the paraglider invasion. Yet, even there, we found the Path to Peace.
Initiated by resident Tsameret Zamir, this vibrant mosaic art project sits directly on the border wall. It felt like a defiant act of optimism, turning a cold symbol of separation into a canvas of collective hope. We weren’t just looking at the wall; we were seeing a community refusing to let a barrier define their spirit.
The emotional weight of the day peaked when we met Natan Davids, an IDF reservist and the son of one of our own colleagues on the trip. To hear his firsthand account of October 7th, while standing beside his parent, was a profound gift of intimacy. We then headed to the Nova Music Festival site, where Natan spoke to us about his comrade and close friend, who he lost in the war. We held a ceremony in a place that should have only known music; there was not a dry eye among us.
For dinner, we went to Piccolino, a family-owned restaurant where the owner shared her son’s journey, wounded in Gaza and rehabilitated at Hadassah Hospital. Her story of strength is truly the story of modern Israel. Her kitchen prepared and packaged sweet treats for the incredible soldiers and MADA teams during the war, acknowledging their courage, sacrifice, and dedication.
Healing the Land and the Heart
Our mission continued to Kibbutz Ruhama, one of Israel’s first kibbutzim, founded in 1911. We joined in a hands-on volunteer activity at the Venatata Association, which developed a therapeutic Garden Center. This non-profit is currently planting trees at Ruhama specifically for the relocated individuals from Kfar Aza. As we pulled weeds and planted new trees, the physical act of nurturing the soil felt like a metaphor for the nation itself. Engaging with this community showed me that caring for the land is not just a chore; it is the very heart of sustaining their future. To donate to Venatata, click here.
From the gardens of Ruhama, we traveled to Sderot, an Animal-Assisted Therapy and Resilience Center. It was deeply moving to witness how the Israel Trauma Coalition uses the bond between humans and animals to help children and families navigate their deepest fears.. It is a vital, evidence-based lifeline for families living under the constant shadow of conflict. To donate to the Sderot Foundation, click here.
A Sacred Intersection of Faith
As we ascended to Jerusalem on Wednesday, February 18, the mission took on a spiritual dimension that hit me personally.
That day was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Walking through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, I felt an extraordinary emotional connection to my own faith. Standing in a place so rich in history, I found myself reflecting on the universal nature of sacrifice and renewal.
This sense of history became even more visceral at Yad Vashem. Our guide, Carrie, shared for the first time that she is a second-generation survivor; her parents survived Auschwitz. Suddenly, the history wasn’t just in the displays; it was in her voice. The weight of her family’s pain, coupled with the current tragedy, left us in silence so heavy it followed us all the way back to the bus.
Hope in Action
We found our “strength for the journey” at Shalva, an organization dedicated to children with disabilities. Watching the joy and dignity afforded to these children was a testament to the core values of the nation. There, we learned about the Shalva Band that was established in 2005, and it comprises five talented musicians with disabilities. They’re well-regarded internationally, especially after their 2019 Eurovision performance. Click here to listen and see them in action!
To donate to Shalva, please click here.
Our final days focused on the “New Israel” – the civilian infrastructure that rose from the ashes of October 7th. From the Jerusalem Civilian Command Center, led by the dynamic 29-year-old Deputy Mayor Adir Schwartz, to the free medical services of Yad Sarah, Israel’s largest volunteer organization, founded by Rabbi Uri Lupolianski. It provides medical equipment and social services for free to anyone in need, representing the ultimate safety net for the people of Israel. To donate to Yad Sarah’s Mission, click here.
One of our most insightful stops was Kol Haneshama, a Reform Synagogue in Jerusalem, a Reform Synagogue in Jerusalem. We met with Rabbi Debi Shoua Haim and the senior team to discuss the profound differences between Israeli and American congregational life. As Executive Directors, we connected with the challenge of diminishing membership and the need to “think outside the box” to stay afloat. The Rabbi ended our meeting with a beautiful prayer, asking us to place one hand over our heart, and one on our stomach. The prayer resonated with all of us, reminding us that even in the struggle for survival, there is space for the sacred. To make a donation to Kol Haneshama, click here.
Coming Home
I return home not just with notes, but with the voices of Natan, the families of the hostages, and the leaders of Jerusalem echoing in my mind. I am deeply grateful to the UJA and the Westchester Jewish Council for making this mission possible. I returned ready to share these stories with you, and to live out the truth we saw on that mosaic wall: What we build, we don’t give up.
Click here to see pictures of this empowering and uplifting journey.
I left a land focused on healing, only to see it plunged back into the darkness of war a mere week later. My heart aches for those I left behind; they are in my every thought and every prayer.
Liza Wilson
Executive Director
