By Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg
For 16 months, I have aspired to lead my synagogue community to live and breathe their progressive Zionist values. Earlier in the month, I had the chance take a group of 22 Temple Israel members to Israel alongside our Rabbi Emeritus Steven Garten.
Our group was incredibly diverse; we ranged in age from 16 to 83. We had many Jews by Choice and non-Jews, too. Often, French was heard on the bus. Our politics were broad in range. Candidly, I didn’t know what to expect, and it was a week of surprises.
When we arrived in Jerusalem, we were accompanied by rush hour traffic; it could have been the 401 freeway. At dinner time, restaurants were bustling with customers; we had to wait 30 minutes for a table.
There was a buzz in the air. It looked somewhat normal. However, I quickly learned that this was a mirage.
Yes, people were carrying on as best they could, but once one entered a conversation with a local, a new reality was made clear. Everyone was connected to a hostage or victim of the October 7th massacre, everyone had a story of tragedy, and everyone carried deep concerns about what tomorrow would bring.
Refreshingly, while the challenges are many, I discovered glimmers of hope for a better day for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
We had three goals for our week in Israel: to bear witness to the horrors of October 7th, to explore the realities of this moment in time, and to build new connections, especially with our sister congregation in northern Israel.
I want to share some short vignettes on each goal:
Touring the South
It was important for us to visit both the kibbutzim in the southern corridor as well as the site of the Nova Festival. Both left us devastated. Surprisingly, the Nova festival site is quite calm, even beautiful, with flowers blooming everywhere.
Families have set up testimonies to their dear ones. Pictures and stories are scattered in the field to commemorate the victims. These remarkable lives that were all cut short leave one saddened, being confronted with what could have been. 
Kibbutz Kfar Aza, on the other hand, was a site of destruction. Homes still stand battered by bullets and rockets, children’s rooms are still scattered with toys and remnants of lives lived. There is an eerie quiet as only 14 residents have returned.
We were led around by longtime resident Shachar whose family has been in the region for 250 years. With care, he painted pictures of the community life that was and how it was terrorized on October 7th.
Shachar’s words were humbling, cautious, and promising. He highlighted the potential to rebuild and for people to return. He also asked us to look to nearby Gaza, speaking to the importance of finding a pathway to one day be good neighbours. This will not be easy, but for a land fraught with so much grief, it is the only way forward.
Uncomfortable Conversations forge New Paths Forward
That same day, we visited the Black Arrow Memorial at the northern tip of Gaza. There, an IDF sergeant spoke to his 16 months of reserve duty. It pained him to highlight the lives of dear soldiers who were lost in war. He inspired us with his passion and commitment. He implored us to understand that the war is not over, and that Israel’s security continues to be under threat.
Our very own Rabbi Orit spoke up, suggesting that weapons will not bring peace, and with an audience of our delegation, the two conversed with separate visions for a pathway to calm. The words between these parties were tense, but they were also respectful and caring.
As a group, we were struck that we often avoid such conversations, as it is easier to stay in our political bubbles. We could see such a difference in the world if we started to talk, collaborate, and compromise with those that we disagree with. Israelis can be our teachers in this way.
We witnessed a number of experiences that did not make the news in North America but speaks to an optimistic vision of the future. For example, Israeli Arab leader Mohammed Darwashe illustrated that in hospitals and schools across the country, Jews and Arabs are working together for shared causes of healing and learning.
Social Activist Itamar Avneri celebrated that with the holidays approaching, he is leading efforts for Jews to provide food for Muslims for Ramadan and vice versa for Passover.
Strengthening Bonds
Since COVID, Temple Israel has embarked on a partnership with Congregation Poteach Shearim in northern Israel. We did the best that we could using virtual technology.
For the first time, we had the honour of meeting in person and sharing a Shabbat. We were hesitant at first, each shaky with our language abilities. First at the ANU museum, then over Shabbat dinner, and finally with a Torah learning session, we got to know one another and had the opportunity to explore our commonalities.
We were amazed by the stories of aliyah; there were congregants from India, Syria, and Turkey. We were impressed by the resilience of these friends who have been away from their homes for an extended period of time. They too were surprised when we spoke to the antisemitism we face in Canada and pledged to be by our side.
At closing, we sang together and shared words of reflection. One resident of Kiryat Shmona spoke to feeling like the “walking dead” for months, but she also spoke to emerging from Shabbat with hope for that which we can accomplish together.
On our final evening in Israel, we had dinner in Tel Aviv and attended a Havdalah service in hostage square. At dinner, our waiter was intrigued: what was a group of English speakers doing in here in Tel Aviv? We shared that we were present to offer support to Israel and her people. In turn, he shared that he was a survivor of Nova and was grateful to us. We were reminded that even our presence makes a difference.
Later, at hostage square, we said goodbye to Shabbat and from our sadness. We looked ahead to the hope of a new week. The coming days will not be easy, but I am feeling rejuvenated, confident, and eager.
The physical distance between Israel and Canada is wide, but the proximity in our hearts is small. Together we will dream, we will rebuild, and we will do this as one community. I am already eagerly awaiting Temple’s next visit to our homeland.
- Rabbi Mikelberg is rabbi at Temple Israel in Ottawa
