Building Teen Resilience at the Dead Sea Race

When my sister Stephanie Becker, an eye surgeon living in the US who has become involved with Israel’s war effort, proposed bringing Israeli and American teens together for the Dead Sea Race, we envisioned more than just a running event. What unfolded last weekend was a powerful demonstration of unity through shared challenges.

Our team of 95 teen runners came from diverse backgrounds: Israeli teens from Jeremy’s Circle dealing with family illness, displaced youth from the Upper Galilee or along the confrontation line, and American students from Bicultural Hebrew Academy facing rising antisemitism. Despite their different backgrounds – secular, orthodox, and everything in between – their common purpose brought them together.

The common purpose was to complete the Dead Sea 10K Race, an incredibly scenic marathon at the lowest place on earth. 

Team runners with their medals after the race (photo by Ilana Weissman)

Since November, all participants trained rigorously in their communities. Jeremy’s Circle teens joined the Five Fingers pre-army fitness program, Upper Galilee teens trained in Tzevet Ran‘s pre-combat program, and American students worked with Howard Goldstein, a school board member and marathon runner who volunteered as their coach. So by race day, they were all ready. We brought them together at the Ein Gedi Hotel the night before where they got to know each other over drumming, art, puzzle workshops, and dinner. 

Reaching new heights at the lowest place on earth

Wearing matching shirts, it was easy to identify our teens among the 8000 runners on race day. They encouraged each other during the race and proudly shared their completion times afterward. I was thrilled by how pleased they were with their hard-earned accomplishments! Then they headed back to the hotel for yoga to help release their tired muscles.

The team enjoying an after-race yoga workshop (photo by Ilana Weissman)

They shared their stories in mixed Hebrew and English, during pick-up football games or just hanging out. We came together as a large group for a moving “hafrashat challah” ceremony and a balloon release as we prayed for the safety of Israel’s soldiers and the return of the hostages. After dinner, the kids competed in a backgammon tournament, with terrific prizes for the winners. On Saturday, we explored the botanical gardens of the Ein Gedi kibbutz and then broke into teams for more sporty activities.

Hafrashat Challah ceremony (photo by Ilana Weissman)

The feedback was universally positive. The teens enjoyed a great weekend (sponsored by a single anonymous donor) as one of the Jeremy’s Circle teens wrote to me on WhatsApp: 

“Heyyyy…I wanted to say that it was really fun and thank you so much for everything. It’s pretty hard for me right now and these events are really a breath of fresh air between school and dad’s treatments. I really really reallyyyyy love it and I hope it continues forever and maybe one day I’ll volunteer at the organization myself. Thank you ❤”

Some of our runners after the race (photo by Ilana Weissman)

Challenges are better faced together

The weekend proved what Jeremy’s Circle has always known: challenges are better faced together. As our runners covered roughly 1,000 kilometers, each step represented bridges being built between communities. For teens coping with family cancer, displacement, antisemitism, and war-related stress, this experience offered a powerful reminder that they’re part of something bigger, provided some stability and belonging in uncertain times, and demonstrated that Jewish unity transcends geographical boundaries.

The Dead Sea Race’s impact extends beyond the finish line. As I watched these young people support each other through physical challenges, share meals, exchange Instagram handles, and forge friendships, I was reminded why we do this work. In times of personal and national uncertainty, these connections sustain us. At Earth’s lowest point, they discovered their collective strength could lift them all higher.

After the rain on the Ein Gedi hotel grounds (courtesy Jeremy’s Circle)

More pictures from the weekend have been posted here: https://jeremyscircle.org/event/combat-fitness-program-for-teens/