I had the privilege to participate with my daughter in the Bergen County Unity mission from February 17 to February 20. Led by Rabbi Fridman, it was full of opportunities to connect on a personal level to the people of Israel and to engender unity between our communities.

I must admit that I thought going on that this trip would be underwhelming. After all, I’ve heard multiple presentations from released hostages and families who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I follow social media, I read the books. How much more can a trip add? Additionally, dozens of missions are already in the books. How can we make a difference at this late date?

How wrong could I be? There is no comparison between hearing and seeing with your own eyes. Seeing the place that the terrorists broke through the wall in Kerem Shalem, seeing the place that a Nova survivor hid and the fields that he escaped through. Seeing an iPhone that was in a tactical vest near the chest that was punctured by a bullet. In the fables we are used to, the iPhone miraculously saves the owner from certain death; unfortunately, in this case no such miracle was forthcoming. Ordinary people were thrust into an unplanned terrible situation and somehow obtained clarity for what they needed to do. Ordinary people became extraordinary. Civilians ran toward battle unarmed; a young woman gave up her spot in a car full of people fleeing the Nova festival so as not to leave a friend behind. The car full of people survived; the young woman did not. Mothers and fathers immediately dropped their pre-October 7 careers for their new mission in life. Would each of us respond in a similar manner if, God forbid, we were tested?

At every place we went, every Magnum ice cream bar we bought, every small donation we made, every hug we offered, we were showered with thanks incommensurate with the size of the gesture. I am sure we were taking the thanks of previous expeditions that truly made the difference, but it is clear that our presence (and dollars) are keenly needed and appreciated, maybe even more so at this point.