Travel Log: Ramah Nyack Volunteer Mission to Israel, January 2025
https://ramahnyack.org/wp-content/themes/ramahnyack/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 admin admin https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f797ddf95336606cda8a18a56df5907b?s=96&d=mm&r=gTravel Log: Ramah Nyack Volunteer Mission to Israel, January 2025
Rabbi Ami Hersh, Director
MONDAY, JANUARY 20 / TUESDAY, JANUARY 21
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The excitement (and anxiety) from Sunday’s successful start to the cease fire and return of three hostages was still palpable when we landed in Tel Aviv early Monday morning. With this on our minds, our group of 18 quickly got to work. At Citrus & Salt, we prepared meals for families of soldiers. After lunch in Levinski Market and a stop at Cafe Otef (a cafe set up by the community of Kibbutz Re’im to help support the displaced community), we learned about the important work of Project24 – a community organization that “transforms solidarity into action.”
After a short night of sleep in Jerusalem, we headed to the fields of Moshav Petachya to help with the strawberries – in a field that now hangs its strawberry crops from up above as opposed to directly planting them in the ground! It felt good to get our hands dirty in this soil. We then had the privilege to meet with a representative of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and heard from two of the family members. It was painful to hear the stories and challenges and also felt so important to continue supporting them. I always carry Omer Neutra z”l in my heart and mind – especially in a place like this – and know that we must continue to fight until all of the hostages are returned to their families. We made a short visit to Kikar HaChatufim – Hostage Square – and observed the ever evolving display of public art and creativity in support of bringing the hostages home. We concluded our day at dusk by paying our respects at the new sections of Har Herzl – Israel’s national cemetary. It was incredibly emotional to see just a small section of the many new graves that have been needed since October 7, even over the last couple of months. May more graves not be needed in this section.
We were joined today by three Nyack shlichim – and it was a pleasure to introduce them to the group and spend time with them. Speaking with Israelis throughout the days and sharing stories with them has been the most powerful aspect of the trip. It has already been an intense and powerful trip with a special group of people.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22
It was a day of lows and highs. It feels impossible that today was just one day because we squeezed so much in. In the morning we headed south to the Gaza Envelope. We were joined by a number of Ramah Nyack shlichim from this past summer and my cousins (who made aliyah this year with their family) and they shared their personal stories since the war started.
Our first stop was to Kibbutz Kfar Azza (thanks to longtime Ramahnik Alon Futterman for arranging this). The destruction from October 7 is really beyond words. The physical rebuilding will be a long process that is underway. The emotional and psychological rebuilding will be a forever process in the hearts and minds of the displaced residents of this community.
We made a visit to Tkuma where all of the burned and abandoned (and recovered) vehicles from the regions were gathered after the horrible events of October 7. Seeing the destruction that one human being can do to another human being is almost impossible to comprehend.
After a quick stop in Netivot for lunch with a local family, we made an impromptu stop at the Shuva Achim one stop rest stop for soldiers that has been open 24 hours/day since the war started. It is a gathering place for soldiers to get something to eat, gather needed supplies, or even get a massage. It is all run by volunteers and funded by donations. We spoke with soldiers, including a chance encounter with an alum of Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, and my son Micah even played a game of shesh besh (backgammon) with an Israeli Druze soldier, while conversing entirely in Hebrew – though he was whooped!
We next headed to the site of the Nova Festival. The beautiful tributes are very moving and we spent time learning as many of their stories as possible. It is up to us to honor their legacies by sharing their stories over and over.
We concluded the day with a real highlight. We joined a group of 160 reserve soldiers to share a BBQ together. These soldiers have spent more than 6 months in reserve duty over three stints. We grilled, we prepared, we conversed, we ate with them, and we were able to help bring smiles to their faces (and very full bellies) and they warmed our hearts.
A country that has been hit so hard and is still in the midst of an active war (despite the cease fire) could just crawl into a hole and choose despair, sadness, and tears. Instead, they continue to choose life – to rebuild, to smile, to create, and to live.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23
We started our final day together with davening at the Kotel. This physical space that Jews around the world pray towards has heard the prayers of our people across the generations. I personally find the space to be complicated and yet always emotional. Between moments of personal reflection, group prayer, Torah reading, and prayers for healing, the safety of our soldiers, and the continued and speedy return of our hostages – it was the perfect start to our day.
We made a quick stop at the Taylet for a panoramic view of much of the city of Jerusalem – and to discuss aspects of her storied history and future. We then met with a group of young dreamers, Palestinians and Jews, who work together to bring more peaceful coexistence.
After some well-deserved culinary and consumer Zionism, we gathered for our final volunteer opportunity. We visited the private kitchen of chef Rabbi Nissimmi Naim-Naor. The stated purpose was to bake babka for soldiers’ families for Shabbat. But the baking, we learned, was really just the beginning. Nissimmi shared stories with us about various ways food serves as a connector for people at various moments in time and stages of life – and as an agent of healing. In his army service, as a Casualties Notification Officer, he helps families as they are informed about the death of a loved one – and supports them through their shiva. It was a sweet ending to a sweet week.
We concluded the intense week with a shared dinner and closing reflections. There were laughs and tears from this group that bonded together over four days. I’m in awe of their commitment and inspired by the love of Israel they wear on their sleeves and deep in their souls. I feel blessed to do this work.
Stay tuned for details about our next Ramah Nyack Volunteer Mission to Israel: January 2026! Am Yisrael Chai!
