Reflections of My Journey on Taglit-Birthright Israel Solidarity Mission

December 15, 2023 – News of the October 7th massacre reached me like a thunderbolt, leaving me grappling with a profound sense of sorrow and disbelief. It wasn’t enough for me to passively absorb the information from a distance; a compelling need to bear witness, to stand in solidarity with those affected, took root in my soul.

While my heart was heavy with grief, a deep sense of responsibility stirred within me. I knew I had to be in Israel. I didn’t think about safety or security. I knew I would feel safe and secure, as I always have. Perhaps even safer there than in my own backyard.

As someone deeply committed to fostering Jewish continuity and bridging communities through my work at Birthright Israel, my heart was carrying the weight of something that has forever altered my connection to Israel.

While there was no fear, I did have that feeling of knots in my stomach and heart racing at the thought of seeing my cherished Israel shattered and her people broken. A friend suggested that instead of, or maybe in addition to finding a shattered land, I may find a people somber and heartbroken, yet united in grief, compassion, and love; strong, full of resolve and hopeful for a better and more secure country when all this horror is over. Maybe I would feel less off kilter there than here. Maybe there I would find more space and grace for healing.

I decided to travel with our Birthright Israel international solidarity mission, surrounded by people who care so deeply about the Jewish people and Israel. Driven by a desire to bear witness to the pain and resilience of my cherished Israel and her people, my deeply powerful, meaningful and sobering journey began.

I was struck by the overwhelming gratitude extended to us by each Israeli that we met. With great conviction and emotion an Israeli friend told us that our being there is what makes them strong as a people. There was a collective expression of concern regarding the escalating hatred of Jews in our respective communities around the world. The Israelis are worried about us! “We will win, we will prevail, but what about you” was the sentiment.

The role of Birthright Israel transcends passive observation; it represents a call to action grounded in compassion and support. On October 8th, Birthright Israel shifted from our usual activities to help Israel in its recovery. The Volunteer Program was created focusing on food harvesting operations to prevent shortages in the Israeli market while also sorting, packing, and distributing goods. Our alumni from across the globe, some incredible Canadians among them, moved by empathy and a shared commitment of mutual responsibility, registered by the thousands.

We met with several of these courageous, selfless volunteers who are, as Taglit-Birthright Israel International CEO Gidi Mark said, “each leaving a drop of sweat in the fields of Israel.” They inspired me with words like “all the walls disappear” and “the only important thing is we are Jewish and our Israeli family needs our help.” Several shared why they put their lives on hold to fly to Israel and volunteer, “it’s like my hands moved on their own when I saw the ad. Our blood brings us
together and I had to come help our brothers and sisters.”

One of the most poignant aspects of this journey was the opportunity to connect with the individuals and families directly impacted by the tragedy. Their stories were heart-wrenching, yet their spirit was unbroken. In bearing witness to their experiences, I feel a profound responsibility to amplify their voices and share their stories with Jewish and non-Jewish communities alike.

It was no surprise to me that the most impactful encounters had to do with children the same ages as mine. While I have many images of the massacre and devastation in my mind, it was the story shared by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of Hersh Goldberg, who was seriously wounded and abducted from the music festival in Kibbutz Reim on October 7, that brought me to tears. Rachel’s endless advocacy on behalf of her son and the other hostages was inspiring. A brief embrace between two moms will stay with me forever.

Eyal Waldman, member of the Birthright Israel Israeli Board, shared the heartbreaking story of his daughter, Danielle, z”l, who was tragically murdered by Hamas at the Kibbutz Reim Music Festival. Eyal choked back tears as he shared the events that unfolded on October 7, and the days after as he desperately searched for his youngest daughter and her boyfriend Noam. He kept hoping she was merely wounded or perhaps taken hostage, but still alive. Eventually he received notice that their bodies had been identified.

Among the victims, there are also survivors. At Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital, we met Yuval, a 20- year-old staff sergeant in the Golani Brigade serving at a base in the south. Almost certain he was going to die October 7th, while defending his base in a tank, he called his parents, his girlfriend and friends to say I love you and goodbye, as he and his crew struggled to hold the hatch closed. Miraculously, the terrorists could not open it, and moved on. Yuval was seriously wounded and after surgery is in rehabilitation. When asked if he would go back, Yuval’s response was, “There is no question. I will fight for my country. I will go back if they let me.”

For the first time in the history of Ichilov hospital, the facility moved underground to what is normally a 3-story parking lot. The parking spot numbers painted on the ground were barely visible, covered by beds and lifesaving equipment.

You could hear a pin drop as we heard testimony from Prof. Ronit Lubetzky, head of the hospital’s pediatric department who received nine children and two mothers as freed hostages. She thought she had seen it all but will never ever forget what she saw among these children.

Some could barely speak others could not stop talking. As a mother, her instincts were to hug the freed children as they disembarked the helicopters at the hospital. But because the extent of trauma was unknown, staff had been instructed to refrain from touching them. One thing was evident in relation to these freed hostages, she said, the brutality and evil was unprecedented.

From Tel Aviv, we traveled south, toward the border communities that had been directly attacked in the first hours of the savage massacres of October 7. On our approach, we passed the “cemetery of cars”; Hundreds of abandoned cars, reminders of the dead, abducted and missing music festival goers. My own kids could have been among them.

As we walked the deserted streets of Kibbutz Kfar Aza and Kibbutz Alumim, protected by bullet proof vests and helmets, the echoes of war were all around, Israeli cannons booming, air strikes thundering, drones and helicopters buzzing overhead. We’ve all seen the pictures of the burnt- out homes on the kibbutzim. But the spray-painted markings, applied by IDF soldiers as they cleared the properties in the days after the massacres, told me chilling details of their own. For example, a circle with a dot in the centre denoted a body found inside and serves as a grim reminder of the many lives lost.

Through all the devastation, anguish and despair, I was aware that nature was taking its power back. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming, and trees were filled with limes. I felt this was a sign of resilience and hope.

The weight of witnessing is not enough.

As a passionate advocate for Jewish continuity and someone deeply committed to sending Jewish young adults to Israel, I passionately believe that the transformative experience of Birthright Israel will play a pivotal role in supporting our participants and alumni against the rising tide of Jew hatred and Israel hatred both on and off campus.

Birthright Israel has long been a cornerstone in fostering Jewish identity among young adults. Resuming trips will play a critical role in the healing process in Israel and abroad. We are committed to doing the work now to send as many young adults to Israel as possible when it is safe to do so.

Our educational expertise, international reach and vast network of top educators and organizations allows us to think proactively, boldly, and imaginatively to create these vital changes. In January 2024, Birthright Israel will offer a series of one-week “Israel Trip Staff Intensive” educational programs in Israel. This initiative aims to develop a well-trained cadre of North American experiential Jewish and Israel educators, equipped to effectively deal with the new realities in Israel and in their home communities.

The streets of Israel will soon again be filled with thousands of our participants. We are strong. We will endure. We will prevail. It is encoded in our DNA.

Am Yisrael Chai – The People of Israel Live!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Erez Uzir.