West Virginia: A Little Less Politics, A Lot More Heart

YES Israel Election Road Trip | Dispatch from West Virginia

Driving west toward Ohio, we find ourselves winding through West Virginia, a state where there may not be much election campaigning to chase, but there is certainly no shortage of heart.

The people are down-to-earth, hardworking, and unmistakably patriotic. American flags fly proudly from front porches, where carved Halloween pumpkins sit alongside iconic rocking chairs. Quiet streets are lined with autumn leaves in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. There is something almost picture-perfect about it all, and we find ourselves slowing down, taking it in.
But as beautiful as the scenery is, it’s the people who capture our hearts.

There is a warmth here, a genuine friendliness that doesn’t seem to require much explanation. People have time for a conversation, a smile, a little exchange about where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. Life seems to move at a different pace, one that leaves room for the people around you.

There isn’t much politicking in the air, at least not in the places we pass through. Instead, we sense a quiet understanding that some things matter more than politics: country, family, community, and looking out for one another.

For two Israelis accustomed to the hectic pace of life in the Middle East, where even the simplest conversation can quickly become a debate about politics, security, or the latest crisis, there is something wonderfully refreshing about it.

This is a place we could get used to.

And it gets me thinking about home.

There are those in Israel calling for a unity government, and I often find myself wondering exactly what they mean by that. Unity around which ideas? Which priorities? Which compromises? Are we talking about a political arrangement, or something deeper?

Here in West Virginia, watching flags flutter above porches and families go about their lives, unity seems to take on a simpler meaning. Not necessarily agreeing on everything, but sharing a sense of belonging, of responsibility, and of what matters most.

Perhaps that’s what strikes me most. In a place where we came looking for election activity, we found ourselves thinking less about politics and more about the things that hold a country together.

West Virginia may not have given us many campaign stops, but it certainly gave us something to think about.

And something beautiful to take home.