This JCC State of Mind was written by Riley Crow, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
After three previous attempts to travel to Israel were cancelled due to the war, I arrived in our sister region of Karmiel-Misgav determined to contribute, to listen, and to bear witness on behalf of our Pittsburgh community. And with the winter holidays upon us here in the U.S., I could not help but view this long-awaited trip through a lens of gratitude and amazement.
Known around our JCC as the agency’s “camera guy,” I set out to document my experience through a photo journal, capturing both the beauty and resilience of our extended family in the north of Israel. I was welcomed by local partners, including Shaked Gal, who leads the Diller Teen Fellows, a program partially funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, that links Jewish teens from across the world in a yearlong journey of leadership, learning and shared identity.
One of the most powerful moments of my visit came at the Pittsburgh Promenade, where eleven trees stand in memory of the eleven souls lost in the October 27, 2018 synagogue attack. Standing half a world away face-to-face with this living memorial, I felt what so many of us know to be true: Jewish community is not defined by geography. It stretches across continents and landscapes, binding us to one another in enduring and deeply meaningful ways. That feeling – of connection, responsibility, and gratitude – was at the heart of my time in Karmiel-Misgav.
Throughout my visit, I encountered sites that bear Pittsburgh’s name and fingerprints, including a number of places typically cared for by teen delegations from our JCC. Because of the war, Pittsburgh groups have not been able to visit for two years, and the absence is felt on both sides. As the clouds of war begin to clear, though, there is a growing sense of hope that these shared spaces will soon return to life, filled once again with connection, conversation, and partnership.
I also witnessed the challenges our partner region continues to face. The home of Partnership2Gether, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh of which the JCC is a core partner, normally is a vibrant hub of activity between our communities. Now it is doubling as a bomb shelter – a reminder of the daily realities endured by families who have just thirty seconds to reach safety when alarms sound. Even within that stark context, the space remains filled with signs of partnership, shared creativity, and mutual support. It is a testament to the quiet strength that emerges when communities show up for one another with consistency and love.
As we gathered for Thanksgiving this week, I hope the images and moments I have brought home offer us a powerful reminder of what it means to belong to a global Jewish community – one woven together by shared history, shared responsibility and shared gratitude. We give thanks for our partners in Karmiel-Misgav who welcomed me with warmth and who continue to inspire us with their courage and commitment. And we give thanks for the enduring bonds between our communities, which remain strong even in times of distance or difficulty, and for the many ways we continue to support, uplift and care for one another.
Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom,
Riley Crow
