Editor’s Note: The following article/reflection was written by Yael Mizrahi, who was part of the large group on the Israel Mission by the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond and Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida in February. It was the largest overall Jewish Federation Mission to Israel since Oct. 7, 2023.
By Yael Mizrahi – KBI member and first-time visitor to Israel.
This past February 17th one of my biggest dreams came true, I landed in Israel for the first time in my life!
I had the privilege to go on a Mission Trip along with 15 other members of Keneseth Beth Israel through the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond.
Even though I had an itinerary beforehand, I had no idea what to actually expect.
In my head I had all this excitement thinking about “ME” being in Israel, the places that “I” was going to visit, how much fun “I” was going to have, but as soon as I got off of the plane the “ME and I” feelings were pushed aside as I walked through the airport and saw the pictures of the hostages and I realize it’s not about me, this is about all of us.
Then another thing that struck me was that the airport was almost empty, something that I didn’t expect. Later, I learned that this is something actually that was unusual before the war.
As we were driving to the hotel where we were going to stay, it was clear that the color that is “in style” after October 7th is yellow, everywhere you looked you could see yellow ribbons on cars, yellow signs on the buildings, on the streets…. a whole nation screaming in silence “WE WANT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS BACK NOW”!!!
Yet you can see the contrast of a broken-hearted nation that keeps working, going to school, playing volleyball on the beach and even greeting you with a big smile. Despite the war, I felt safe, contrary to what most people outside of Israel may think, I felt safer there being surrounded by “my people” in “my home.”
Our tour guides mentioned that our group was one of the biggest that they had in a long time. Because of the war, tourism and a lot of businesses have been very affected, so it meant even more for us to be there.
Our mission got to experience and participate in projects that support various programs that help different communities in Israel. A couple of these amazing projects that made a huge impact on me were located in the area of our sister city Hadera.
We went to Kibbutz Magal which is probably less than a mile away from the West Bank; it was shocking to see how close the families of this Kibbutz and the people in this area live from their enemies, having to be in constant fear and alert 24/7.
As they said, there was a life before October 7th and another new reality after October 7th. Visiting and interacting with the people was a true gift because regardless of the suffering and the pain, we could see the amazing resilience and strength that has helped the Jewish people to rise from the ashes over and over again.
We also had the opportunity to visit Kibbutz Nir Oz and the site where the Nova Music Festival took place.
It was a very emotional and painful day, as we walked around these two places and the pain, the destruction and death were still palpable.
As news came that the bodies of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas were to be returned the next day, we were able to light yahrzeit candles in the front yard of the Bibas house – being there on that day definitely made everything harder for all of us.
At the “Nova” Memorial we had the opportunity to listen to the experience of one Nova Festival survivor named Shelev. When he finished sharing his story, one of our KBIers, Judy Maizels, gave Shelev with one of the ‘Be Kind’ signs she had brought, he was very grateful for that. After that we all gathered, and Rabbi Asher led Kadish.
I really don’t have words to describe that moment. For months on different occasions, we gathered at KBI to pray and to cry together for our brothers and sisters in Israel and now there we were, together at the places that brought us so much pain.
Something beautiful to share about the Nova site is that in the midst of what it was a horrible place of sorrow, right now, there’s a new Torah scroll that is being written there!!
This shows the essence and the mission of the Jewish people: “To bring light wherever there is darkness.”
We left Nova and went to have lunch with some IDF soldiers. They shared their stories about October 7th and while I was listening, I noticed that one of the soldiers sitting at our table was just looking into the horizon. I could see the sadness and pain in his face, so I started to talk to him asking about his family, etc.
While talking to me he basically sounded like he felt without hope, and that broke my heart. There he was, one of our heroes without hope! I talked to him about EMUNAH (faith), one of the most important things that can keep us afloat in our worst moments.
Thankfully he then got a smile on his face, he was very appreciative of our conversation and we have been in contact since then. We have no idea how much the people of Israel are in need of a kind word, a smile, or even a simple “everything is gonna be ok,” “you are not alone.”
Once we got back on the bus, I sat down and that was it, I broke down in non-stoppable tears. After being at Nir Oz, the Nova Memorial and talking with a hero without hope, I felt frustrated that I couldn’t do anything to fix the hearts of so many people.
Yes, here I was with a totally broken heart crying because I couldn’t fix all the broken hearts of our nation and felt mad because the world around us can’t see or doesn’t want to see the reality of this war.
Yerushalayim, Oh Yerushalayim!!!
Finally, the destination that my soul has been longing for years for… As we entered Yerushalayim we stopped at an overlook, even though it was freezing cold, we gathered and said Shehecheyanu, of course tears were rolling down my face.
We continued to the hotel and the beauty of the Old City, and the atmosphere was amazing. The contrast of walking through the Mamila Mall going toward the Yaffa Gate of the Old City was beautiful. So many years of history under my feet, who knows how many battles fought on the ground that I was stepping on…. Just WOW!
That night we had an amazing dinner and saw former KBI members that now live in Israel, Rabbi Ron (former Rabbi from KBI) and his wife, Yonathan Cantor, Yaakov Lehman (Amy Beth’s son) with whom I had a very nice conversation in Spanish.
After dinner we were able to get a full experience for all our senses at Machane Yehuda, the ‘Shuk’. It was a full experience for all our senses, the colors, the blasting music, the flavors and the delicious smell of the food, all in one place.
Every corner had their own blasting party, people dancing and singing. It was nice and also shocking to see all this happiness in the air despite the sadness we experienced earlier that day when we all heard that the bodies of the Bibas family were returned (without knowing yet that it was not Shiri’s body).
For an outsider it may be confusing to see this, a nation that mourns during the day but dances at night, and it was clear to me, music has been a tool to survive through the deepest pain that this war has left, the loud music is to quiet the sorrow in the Jewish hearts.
Friday before Shabbat started, I got ready for the most anticipated moment of my life, going to the Kotel. Yes, we all know that Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere…. But the powerful energy and the extraordinary connection that you feel with Him at the Kotel, you don’t feel it anywhere else.
As I walked toward the Western Wall I was calm and I thought to myself, huh I’m not crying, I’m so proud of myself, but sure enough as I put my forehead and my hands on the free spot that I found, tears started coming out non stopping, I prayed and I cried, and it felt so great, and yes, I didn’t want to leave.
After a Havdalah ceremony, some of the KBI members got together and went to Ben Yehuda Street and there we met with more former KBI members, Nancy Alexander, Lily Lusk and Ester Baila Reinke. I’ve heard that when you are in Israel there’s always the chance to run into someone you know, and it was totally proven that night!
This was a life-changing journey for all of us; we were able to see the strength, to feel the pain, to admire the resilience of our people.
I saw torn Israeli flags, yet still standing high, the same way as all of us may be feeling, broken but not defeated, we are still standing, and now more than ever the words of our anthem resonate in my heart…” As long as the Jewish spirit is yearning deep in the heart, With eyes turned toward the East, looking toward Zion, Then our hope – the 2000-year-old hope – will not be lost: To be a free people in our land, The land of Zion and Jerusalem”.
I’m very grateful to Hashem for allowing me to go and have such an amazing experience in one of the most challenging times for our people, and I want to acknowledge and give thanks to my husband who was so brave and took care of our three kids in the middle of a winter storm; and to Mr. Weinstein and the Jewish Federation for this meaningful and unforgettable trip.
