Upon my arrival in Israel on May 12, the Yom HaZikaron Memorial siren sounded at 8:00 PM. In a moment of quiet unity, I stood alongside others honoring Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. Since October 7, I have felt unsettled and lonely in my comfortable Sarasota, FL, home due to the shocking events and the absence of the support I had hoped for. As a volunteer in Israel after the heinous attacks on October 7, I knew with complete clarity that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

 

On May 13, at Hostage Square, Dani Miran, a 78-year-old father, shared the heartbreaking story of his son, Omri, aged 46, taken captive from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Despite his pain, Dani Miran visits Hostage Square daily to honor his son's memory. This experience reinforced the importance of acknowledging the gravity of such a horrendous situation and our duty never to forget. Traveling South to the Nova Music Festival massacre site that occurred on October 7,  I found solace in repeating the mantra "We Will Dance Again." The significance of hope and resilience are ingrained values. At the Nova Music Festival Site, smiling portraits of over 360 young, innocent faces greet me. The faces are victims of rape, torture, brutal mutilation, and murder that could belong to any one of my four young adult children, and I found myself unable to cry walking deeper into the sea of faces. Rafaela, a Nova survivor, shared her harrowing survival story in the third person of hiding beneath bodies in a small bunker with 40 others. At the same time, her boyfriend, Chanani, lay murdered alongside her. Her strength is remarkable.

 

Later that evening, after an emotional day, we brought gifts for the children of displaced members of Kibbutz Alumim, located close to Gaza, attacked by Hamas terrorists. The people from the Kibbutz are temporarily staying in Netanya. Despite their hardships, we felt their palpable zest for life. We spent an unforgettable evening dancing, singing, and eating with people who had lost their homes but not their human dignity, and I found myself leaning into their strength.

 

The following day, we stopped at Kibbutz Kfar Azza, where residents farmed livestock and vegetables and produced plastic before October 7. Each Kibbutz in Israel efficiently specializes in a specific type of export. However, on October 7, a devastating tragedy struck the community. Sixty-two residents lost their lives, while 17 others were taken hostage in Gaza, while their homes were decimated.

 

At Magen David Adom, a leading provider of emergency medical services, 90% of the dedicated EMTs and first responders are volunteers. Donating blood felt incredibly meaningful, much as it has since I became a regular blood donor after 9/11. The following morning, we joined a grassroots effort that emerged in response to the war and packed bags full of essential supplies to support IDF soldiers.

 

In the afternoon, despite the blazing heat, we harvested Kolrabi, also known as German turnip, at Leket, Israel's National Food Bank. Before the war, Leket delivered surplus produce to food-insecure people. Since the war, Leket has reimagined its model to meet the emergency produce needs of Israelis throughout the small country approximately the size of New Jersey. Volunteers will lovingly deliver fresh produce to the homes of those in need.

 

The Jewish community and the entire country of Israel is a rich and diverse tapestry, strong and dedicated to each other and survival. As I boarded my plane home with tears streaming down my face, I remembered what Dr. Zohar Raviv said: "Israel is not an ideal state but a state of ideals." I encourage anyone who feels the call to experience it to go to Israel. This trip is unlike any other, and the need for volunteers is great. Momentum's Unity Missions are fantastic, but there are plenty of ways to make a trip to Israel a reality.