I Finally Made It to Israel and It was a Life-changing Adventure

This is the second column of a three-part series about the author’s recent trip to Israel.

I want to begin by happily saying, ”I made it to Israel for the Evolve Hadassah Paced to Please trip! Unfortunately, due to flight cancelations, I arrived a day later than planned, but, thankfully, I only missed half a day of my tour with Hadassah Travel.

In 2024, I was part of the Evolve Hadassah’s Evolve Immersive Experience (EIE) Meeting monthly on Zoom, EIE introduced me to all things Hadassah. I had originally responded on October 7, 2023, to the Evolve Hadassah post offering this EIE opportunity because I was looking for a community of women who shared my love for Israel and felt compelled to offer my support to the Israeli people. The EIE program inspired me to become more active in my local Hadassah region and enhanced my desire to visit Israel.

Last month, 11 of us traveled to Israel on a specially designed Evolve Hadassah trip. We did so much in our 10 days there that I can’t recount it all, but here are some highlights:

It wouldn’t be Hadassah Travel without a visit to the Hadassah Medical Organization’s two world-class research hospitals at Ein Kerem and on Mount Scopus and a tour of the latter’s new Gandel Rehabilitation Center. At Hadassah Ein Kerem, we spoke with a nurse who shared her experience working with and treating people from all faiths and nationalities. We then visited the synagogue at Ein Kerem, with the iconic Chagall Windows. Those 12 panels are truly amazing.

At the Gandel Rehabilitation Center, we witnessed some of the latest technologies in rehabilitation, including an anti-gravity treadmill that teaches patients to walk again. We also saw the underground hospital that can be used in times of crisis as a full working unit. I am so honored to be part of Hadassah and know that our donations go toward such amazing work.

We also had the opportunity to hear from people all over the country about their October 7 experience and how they are rebuilding and recovering. Some were soldiers and some were civilians, but everyone had a personal story to tell — each person expressing hope that the situation in Israel will get better.

In the Hula Valley, we learned about bird migration patterns and volunteered at a Moshav, an Israeli communal village, by painting the kids’ play areas. We dug for sweet potatoes with the Leket Food Bank. We attended a cooking class in a Druze village and again in Jerusalem. The fresh fruits, vegetables and just about everything taste better in Israel!

Our group also had two opportunities to create art: one in Safed, where we learned about micro-calligraphy; and one in Ein Hod, where we experimented with pigments made from nature, such as seeds, fruits and even bugs.

I need to interject some information about our EIE group. We love to shop! So we took the opportunity to explore every store, gift shop and shuk (marketplace) stall. Needless to say, we did our part to contribute to the Israeli tourism economy. Our tour guide quickly understood that this was a group that wanted time to browse and buy. I came home with gifts for my family, a few things for myself, and a large amount of halvah (a type of confectionary) that I shared with my family.

While in Jerusalem, we walked through the Western Wall tunnels and placed personal notes in the Wall. I am told Shabbat in Jerusalem is pretty quiet; unfortunately, I only experienced it from my hotel because of the cold rainy weather. I know Israel needs rain, but did it have to be during my visit?

Our group visited some other very impactful places. We spent time at Yad Vashem (the World Holocaust Remembrance Center), the grave of Hadassah Founder Henrietta Szold, Hostage Square, a Moshav in the Gaza Envelope and the Nova Music Festival massacre site. Each of these places was somber and left a deep imprint on my soul. Being at the Moshav, so close to the Gaza border, brought up many emotions. For me, it was “too close for comfort.” And yet, 90 percent of the residents have returned to their homes.

The Nova Music Festival site was the most intense emotional experience for me. It was so horrific and is still so fresh. I don’t take it lightly that I was there to bear witness and view the memorials for those lives ended so viciously. We lit yahrzeit (memorial) candles and recited the Mourners Kaddish (the Jewish prayer in memory of the dead) to commemorate what happened there.

After these emotionally draining experiences, we ended our Israel trip in Tel-Aviv. We had a walking tour of local graffiti, visited the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, explored art at the Agam Museum and took many opportunities to shop and eat in the area. I cannot explain the sheer beauty of watching the sunset over the beaches in Tel Aviv.

As the tour ended, we said our goodbyes to one another, though a few of us extended our stay in Israel.

Our last big adventure was going to Masada and the Dead Sea. The views from the top of Masada are breathtaking — and no, I didn’t’ climb up. We took the cable car both ways. After that, a cool dip in the Dead Sea was perfect. My friends and I covered ourselves in mud and floated. It was amazing to know that, while on the Dead Sea shores, we were at the lowest point on dry land on the Earth — about 1,410 feet below sea level.

My trip to Israel was all I hoped it would be. The Jewish people have always emerged stronger from times of struggle. I trust that this most recent conflict will be no different. There are some who say things will get worse before they get better, but most believe the situation will get better.

I came away from Israel with the understanding that hope must be based in reality; otherwise it is just a dream. I look forward to sharing more of my reflections from this life-changing trip in Part Three.