Led by Rabbi Dr. Yosie Levine and Rebbetzin Dr. Rachel Levine, The Jewish Center of New York City went on a solidarity mission to Israel during the last week in December. The group of nearly 40 participants, including me, now has a new mission: telling others about the importance of visiting Israel.

You should visit Israel to bear witness. Many never thought that this phrase would once again become part of our vernacular. We saw the horrific devastation of Kibbutz Be’eri. The images of burned homes and childrens’ toys lying amid ashen rubble, and the smell of death in a bullet- ridden “safe room” will never leave our minds.

You should visit Israel to provide comfort. We paid a shiva call to the family of Joseph Gitarts, who was killed in action in Gaza. With all 40 of us standing in a circle surrounding the mourners, Joseph’s mother and brother spoke of Joseph’s academic brilliance. Joseph’s mother also told us about the letter her son wrote that was only to be read in the event he was killed. The letter stated that he fell with honor for his people and that he had no regrets.

Joseph’s family could not believe that we came from America to be menachem avel. In fact, after the shiva call our group received a note from a close friend of Joseph’s family stating that “what you’re doing — it means a lot to all of us here in Israel.”

You should visit Israel to hear from survivors. We heard the harrowing experience of a Nova festival survivor who explained to us that right before Hamas unleashed its killing spree, “one of the peaks of the party” occurred — sunrise. “You dance next to people in the dark and suddenly you can see their faces. It’s an amazing moment. Really, I can’t explain to you the feeling,” said the survivor. Shortly thereafter, the rockets began falling, shattering the peace of the festival. The lives of 360 innocent souls who simply wanted to dance were taken.

You should visit Israel to see how strong the people of Israel are. At Kikar Hatufim (Hostages Square), we spent time with Dani Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran. It was hard not to tear up upon hearing about Omri, but Dani told us that we must not cry; we are a strong nation with strong resolve. Dani’s words of strength prompted us to burst out singing Am Yisrael Chai in unison.

You should visit Israel to give chizuk. We heard from Dana Cohen, the widow of war hero Aviad Cohen, HY”D, from the community of Shlomit, who heroically gave his life on Oct. 7 while defending three communities on the Gaza border. Dana stated that “Coming here is a big hug for us and gives us power to continue.”

You should visit Israel to witness hope and resilience. We visited with families from the community of Shlomit, who were evacuated to a hotel. We watched the calm chaos of children at play and heard about the daycare and educational classes which take place in the hotel’s facilities. Make no mistake about it though, the families of Shlomit are already planning for the day when they can return home and rebuild.

You should visit Israel to help with your hands. We brought nearly 100 sleeping bags to Israel and delivered them to a Jerusalem chamal (civilian command center), where we spent the morning packing supplies for our chayalim. Israel can truly use the physical labor of volunteers.

You should visit Israel to daven with our Israeli brethren. We went to Sderot, where we met with local Chabad Rabbi Pizem. Davening Mincha in the large room of the Chabad shul, Rabbi Pizem explained that it hadn’t been necessary to use that room for davening since Oct. 7 because approximately 70% of Sderot residents had evacuated. Some of us also davened at the Kotel with chayalot Friday night and will never forget saying Shema Yisrael together.

You should visit Israel to see that the war has not completely halted life. We visited Migdal Ohr and were fortunate to hear from its founder, Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid Grossman. Although active in wartime efforts such as inspiring army units and providing necessary aid, Rabbi Grossman and Migdal Ohr continue to care for thousands of orphaned and underprivileged children.

You should visit Israel to support its economy. We received a special address by Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy. Levy told us that “it’s really important that you are here … Just by booking a hotel room, eating in a restaurant, tipping generously, you are propping up a country whose economy is on standby.”

I’d be remiss if I didn’t note that on our mission we heard the sound of Israel at war. At Soroka Hospital in Beesheva, we heard the distinct loud sound of an incoming helicopter bringing chayalim injured in combat to the hospital for treatment. We heard trance music at the Nova 6.29 exhibit at the Tel Aviv Expo Center, which recreates the atmosphere of the festival where 360 attendees were brutally slaughtered and many more were taken hostage. We heard “hammering” at the rabbinate’s Shura army base, where the heavy task of identifying those who were murdered and preparing the bodies for burial is done. The hammering, we were told, is the sound of building caskets.

We also clearly heard the sound of optimism. There was joyful music played at Tzomet Gilad (Gilad Junction), a site run by volunteers where soldiers come to eat, get haircuts, massages, and simply smile. There was the sound of laughter at a barbecue we hosted for chayalim at their base.

Most importantly, we heard the sound of our strong and brave IDF. While at Kibbutz Be’eri, we heard the sound of our artillery in the distance. As we were leaving an Air Force base, we heard (and saw) our fighter jet head towards the sky.

These sounds remind us of the phrase seen and heard all over Israel: Beyachad Nenatzeach. Together we will win.

If there is one word to describe the feeling we encountered on our mission it is “togetherness,” more commonly referred to in English as “unity.” Unity of Jews within Israel. Unity between Israel and diaspora Jews. In an emotional conversation that I, an American visitor, had with an Israeli at the ruins of Be’eri, I was told that “we are no longer seven million Jews in Israel, we are 15 million Jews together in the world.”

As we heard from Rav Doron Perez, head of the World Mizrachi movement whose son Daniel Shimon ben Sharon is being held hostage in Gaza, “If we can face it together with the sense of one people who love each other, who care about each other, who are in this together … we will be able to overcome.”

Judith Falk is the creator of the Upper West Side Shtetl Facebook Group. You can follow her on instagram @upperwestsideshtetl. She is a lawyer by day and a former legal reporter.