Somewhere in Israel—A soldier stood next to me in line at the store. She couldn’t have been more than three years older than me. She wore her uniform, indicating that she was either going to or coming from her army base. I noticed her name badge. I was struck by the stark reality of the situation: there was a war raging and that a real person—a young woman close to my own age with a Jewish name and an adoring family—was fighting for our nation’s very survival.
When I signed up for NCSY’s GIVE program earlier this year, I never imagined that Israel would be a war zone by the time I arrived, and that my summer would revolve around rescue and relief initiatives. As much as the schedule changes threw me, the experience was life-altering, and I am so proud to have been a part of this chapter in Jewish history.
Mevaseret was supposed to be our home base for our five chesed-filled weeks in Israel, and the majority of our activities were scheduled to take place in central Israel. But immediately after we deplaned, we were rerouted north to the Galilee to ensure that we would be kept at a distance from the falling rockets and wailing sirens. We also spent time in the Golan, the holy city of Tzfat, and beautiful Kibbutz Lavi.
Our perfectly planned itinerary became obsolete the moment the first rocket touched down in Israel. Our program’s amazing director and staff made the best of a tough situation, continuously updating our schedule on the fly to ensure that our days were still filled with fun and engaging programming and meaningful experiences.
I will never forget the time we spent running a carnival for children from the south who had been relocated to the north for their protection. I will always remember the sincerity with which the Israelis we encountered showered us with praise for not abandoning Israel during these trying times.
During a weekend visit, my uncle in Be’er Sheva asked me if I felt that my trip to Israel was worth it considering how drastically the program’s schedule had been altered and how daunting it was to stick around Israel during a war. I explained that it was a deep and meaningful experience, and that I felt grateful for the opportunity to give back in the ways I had.
From a distance, my father asked me if the situation frightened or concerned me at all. I told him that from where I stood, the situation appeared more challenging than scary. It was the attitude that so many Israelis I had met were adopting and it just seemed appropriate. Thanks to the IDF, the Iron Dome missile defense system, and God’s constant intervention, I felt safe and secure. Indeed, we were at war, but I felt very much at home.
In our community in New Jersey, we gather to say tehillim anytime there is a serious situation in Israel. I have always participated in these special gatherings but they never feel quite right. The seven-hour time difference and the 6,000-mile expanse between North America and Israel create a chasm, a distance that cannot be easily overcome.
As such, it felt appropriate for me to be in Israel this summer. Our interactions with our Israeli brothers and sisters impacted us deeply and left an indelible mark on our souls. Now, we will never again feel that distance when saying tehillim. In our minds eyes, we will be able to picture the IDF soldier standing next to us in line, the young children running to the bomb shelters, and the Israeli mothers thanking us for spending time with their families.
Never before have I felt so connected to Am Yisrael; never before have I felt so good about giving back. Without a doubt, this summer was not what I signed up for. Having laid the foundation for a deep connection with the Land and People of Israel, it was so much more than I could ever have imagined.
Rachel Eckstein is a native of Passaic, NJ and an incoming Junior at Bruriah High School. Over the summer, Rachel participated in NCSY’s Girls Israel Volunteer Experience (GIVE), a five-week chesed-focused summer program in Israel, organized by the Orthodox Union, for extraordinary high school girls.
By Rachel Eckstein
