Rising Like a Lion: Continuing the Journey

In two weeks, Jews around the world will read Parashat Balak, including the powerful verse: “Behold, a people that rises like a lion, and lifts itself like a lion”
It’s a prophecy. One that God placed in the mouth of Balaam, the unwilling prophet who had set out to curse.

And yet, sometimes it feels as if this prophecy was meant for our time — for this generation — at this very moment.

The image of a people rising like a lion feels incredibly apt for what we are experiencing right now in Israel.

We live in a country that knows war. Still, on Friday, June 13, we awoke to a day unlike anything we’ve ever known.

It felt as if the last few years had been preparing us for this.
The lockdowns during COVID taught us how to stay home, work remotely, and reinvent our daily lives.

The ongoing war, since the massacre of October 7th, has reminded us of the importance of defending our national home — and, just as crucially, the importance of following guidelines and taking care of one another.

Through it all, Masa has continued to operate — against the odds, and in full force.
During COVID, when borders were closed and uncertainty loomed, Masa was the only organization still bringing young Jews to Israel.

After October 7th, we adapted quickly. And over the years, through every twist and turn in Israel’s reality, we have made it our mission to stay the course — never shutting down programs, never giving up.

Always choosing resilience. Always choosing Zionism in action.

That choice has never been simple. And this time — it was especially difficult.
The current security situation is more complex than anything Israel has faced since its founding.

Guidelines and realities shift daily.

We’ve been in constant contact with every relevant authority — the Home Front Command, the Ministry of Defense, the police, the government — and we follow their instructions to the letter.

We send real-time alerts to all participants, around the clock. Within moments after a siren, we have information about the location and situation of every fellow.

We make sure they all have access to safe rooms and provide them with emotional support, educational content, and meaningful opportunities to give back — even now.

Yes, some participants and their families have reached out, hoping to leave as soon as possible, mostly fellows who already finished their programs, days before the attack on Iran begun.

We understand.

We’ve worked around the clock to find the safest, fastest options for those who’ve asked. This entire complex operation was carried out hand in hand with Masa’s founding partner, The Jewish Agency for Israel, which mobilized fully on behalf of our participants — providing guidance and support that made all the difference. In response to the inquiries from participants and their families — whether planning to leave or stay — we quickly launched a series of multilingual webinars. Parents raised every possible question, and we provided clear, transparent answers in real time.

We continued working on solutions even as, at the time of writing these lines, we received word of a potential ceasefire going into effect — one that could shift the entire picture. During this time, some participants who had initially asked to leave Israel changed their minds. Every such change — in the security situation or in Home Front Command guidelines — requires an entirely different response. And we are always here to adapt, respond, and provide each Masa participant with the most thoughtful, personalized support possible.

But we have never — not for one moment — compromised on the safety of our participants. That’s our bottom line, our top priority.

What’s made the choice to stay open easier is this:
The voices of participants who said they don’t want to leave.
In fact, they want to stay. To help. To contribute.

Masa’s core motto — “Live like a local” — was put to the test by Israel’s complex reality. And indeed, our participants became an inseparable part of it all: the experience, the challenges, and above all — the sense of shared responsibility and togetherness.

“I came to Israel to connect with my roots — with the culture, the land, and the people that have always felt like a part of me” said to us Talia Mia Cohen, from Sydney, Australia. “I joined a Masa-volunteer program with the intention of working in agriculture, to contribute in a hands-on, meaningful way. But when the war escalated, that path was no longer possible. I was given a choice: to leave, or to stay and volunteer with MDA (Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster, and ambulance service) Despite the fear, despite the uncertainty, I chose to stay. Because what I found here is something so much bigger than myself. I’ve met people who were once strangers and are now starting to feel more like family. I’ve felt the weight of grief and the depth of resilience, often in the same breath. There’s a spirit here — an Israeli strength — that doesn’t waver, even in the darkest moments. I came here searching for a connection, and what I’ve found is a sense of strength and of unity, that runs deeper than fear”.

So, we’ve expanded volunteering opportunities.

We’ve launched online educational programming and meaningful activities.

We’ve even arranged hotel respites in Eilat and the Dead Sea for participants who need a breather.

And when necessary, we provide professional mental health support to help them process the weight of what they’re experiencing here.

The name of the Israeli operation in Iran — “Am K’lavi” (A People Like a Lion) — is more than a biblical reference.

It captures the spirit of what this moment truly is.

From the depths of October 7th, this people have risen and roared.

Yes, credit goes to the Israeli government and security forces carrying out jaw-dropping actions on Iranian soil.

But just as much — credit goes to the Jewish people. To those in Israel, and to those around the world.

To the people clenching their teeth through fear and fatigue. To the people showing up for one another — from one end of the earth to the other.

To those who support from afar, and to those who support up close.

They are all heroes.

Together, they’ve turned the lion’s roar into something thunderous.

And for these moments — we choose to keep going.

For the unity we feel.

For the sense of shared destiny.

For the hope that after this storm, there will be peace, growth, renewal.

That we will return — right here, in Israel — to where we left off.
Only this time, with greater strength. Greater clarity. Greater confidence.

We continue to hold hope — for the swift return of all the hostages, for the safety and strength of Israel’s soldiers and security forces, and for a true and lasting peace in the Middle East and for Jewish communities everywhere.

May we remain united, resilient, and committed to building a future rooted in dignity, security, and solidarity.

The journey continues — together.

The author is the CEO of Masa Israel Journey.
Have questions for Masa? Feel free to reach out.