My most recent trip to Israel reinforced that the country is much more than just a place to visit. It is a living, breathing learning laboratory for Jewish engagement and peoplehood. Standing apart from other Middle Eastern countries in several ways—the only fully functioning democracy in the region, guaranteeing religious freedom and serving as home to Muslims, Christians and Druze, having built a diverse, innovation-driven economy and becoming a global leader in technology, cybersecurity, agriculture, environmental sustainability and medicine, supporting an active civil society and providing legal protections for ethnic minorities and the LGBTQIA+ community—nowhere else do the complexities, challenges, and triumphs of Jewish life play out so vividly in real time.
And more than 530 days following the murderous attack by Hamas, the restart of fighting between Israel and its neighbors – Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen – and amid ongoing domestic political concerns, I once again found the resilience and determination of the Israeli people to be nothing short of extraordinary. From communities working tirelessly to rebuild, to young people finding ways to serve and support one another, to conversations filled with both grief and unwavering commitment to the future, it was clear that Israelis are confronting these times with a profound sense of purpose, and just as it was incumbent upon me when I went to Israel in November 2023, barely 5 weeks after October 7th, I am once again obligated to tell the stories of what I saw, what I heard, and what I felt during my time on the ground to provide a human perspective beyond the headlines, counter misinformation and distorted narratives, and hopefully motivate people to get involved.
Along with 12 other JCC executives from around North America, our seminar kicked off with Dr. Zohar Raviv, VP of Educational Strategy for Taglit-Birthright Israel. Dr. Raviv explained that the only thing greater than the calamity of October 7th is the educational opportunity out of the calamity. Dr. Raviv insisted that leadership and despair do not have to go hand in hand and that history is made by people, not governments. “Leadership,” he said, “is the ability to turn the world in which you live into the world in which you believe.”
And then there was Zohar Mizrachi, secretary general of Kibbutz Re’im, one of the communities located in the Gaza Envelope breached by Hamas terrorists on October 7th. Zohar told us about the 6 brave members of the Re’im’s security force who held off 80 terrorists for approximately 6 hours until the police and army arrived. It pained Zohar to acknowledge that if not for Hamas having stumbled upon the Nova Music Festival on that fateful day that the situation at Re’im would have been much worse. But out of deep sorrow and a great sense of loss, acts of bravery and selflessness often come, and Zohar went on to tell us that in March 2024 she left a prominent new job in healthcare to take care of her daughter and to run the kibbutz. Despite a deep distrust of the Israeli government and the army, Zohar’s goal is not only to physically rebuild Re’im but to help recruit her fellow kibbutzniks to return. “We don’t have the luxury to give up. We will be OK.”
As a ninth generation Jerusalemite, Chaya Gilboa was born into an ultra-Orthodox community but now lives a more secular life in downtown Jerusalem. She has three children and prior to October 7th, Chaya focused her work with civil society in Jerusalem—Palestinians, Israelis, ultra-Orthodox, secular—trying to support their work as an activist. In the aftermath of the Hamas attack, she immediately established a small group of volunteers and raised 2 million shekels to bring more than 1,500 people from Ashkelon, Netivot, and Sderot that the government did not help and placed them in hotels. Today, Chaya integrates Jewish text into her repertoire to help explain how trauma changes our maps—our geographic maps on where one’s home might be, emotional maps on how we feel after October 7th when we see a civilian with a gun, and spiritual maps on how we feel about G-d. “After chaos,” Chaya said, “we don’t need government. We need people.”
And Daniel Hasson from the Jerusalem Intercultural Center (the JICC) shared the hummingbird parable to describe the JICC’s methodical approach in empowering city residents from diverse backgrounds to become active partners in shaping their community’s future. According to Daniel, a large fire broke out, and the animals were terrified. Amidst the despair, a tiny hummingbird flew to a nearby stream, dipped its beak into the water, picked up a single drop, and flew back to the fire to drop the water on the flames. The hummingbird quickly flew back to the stream for another drop. The other animals watched in amazement and asked why it bothered with a seemingly immaterial effort, and the hummingbird replied, “I am doing the best that I can.” Daniel’s message, of course, is a powerful one and suggests that even small actions, when performed with determination, can make a significant difference. It emphasizes the importance of not giving up and doing what one can to help others.
Our JCC has opportunity and commitment to provide context of the Jewish and Israel stories. They are inextricably intertwined. We know that within 16 minutes of the attack on Kfar Aza, there were 100 terrorists on site and all but one of the community’s 14-member security detail had been killed just because they were Jews. We know that there is growing discontent in Israeli society outside of the Hareidi (ultra-orthodox) community with the military exemption they continue to be afforded during a war. And we know that between 2014-2018, there was enough concrete delivered into Gaza to build 16 of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and yet instead of even one skyscraper, 500 kilometers of underground tunnels were built in a geographical area that measures 365 square kilometers.
In the face of great uncertainty, our JCC must be a destination for meaningful dialogue during a time where defensive monologues are preferred. We cannot allow our narrative to only be guided by challenges and tragedies, though. We should celebrate the steadfast and collective resolve of the Israeli people to move forward—not just to endure, but to thrive. Their response to adversity is a testament to the power of community, to the belief that even in the face of immense difficulty and hardship, hope and action can shape the future.
From ancient traditions to cutting-edge innovations, from deep-rooted communal bonds to dynamic expressions of identity, Israel offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore what it means to be Jewish today—from running a boarding school for at-risk youth at Kibbutz Eshbal or operating an Ayalim student village in Karmiel where young Israelis perform thousands of community service hours each year (both organizations receive funding through the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s Partnership2Gether program). May we continue to learn, grow, and build together—both here in Pittsburgh and as part of the broader Jewish world.
Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom,
Jason
