Left, Right, and Center: Reflections on my Israel journey
By Rabbi Dan Medwin (he/him)
Co-Director, URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy
I am swimming in conflicting emotions and thoughts after my short, but intense, trip to Israel through the Foundation for Jewish Camp. The heartbreaking and gut-wrenching stories I heard while there are now imprinted on my soul and will forever remain with me.
While I have spent a great deal of time in Israel previously, and I love the country and the land deeply, it is the personal relationships I have formed with Israelis that constitute my strongest connection. This is also the goal of hosting our annual delegation of Israeli staff members at URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy: to build strong and resilient interpersonal relationships between Israelis and our other staff and campers. It was through my close relationships with Israelis and the conversations we shared during my recent visit—built on solid foundations of trust and support— that I gained a more complete understanding of how many Israelis are feeling right now.
First and foremost, Israelis are in mourning and traumatized. They are in deep pain – not only because of the horrors of October 7th, but due to the continued absence of the hostages, seeing residents being displaced from the north and south, and worry for the soldiers and reservists who continue to be in harm’s way.
Second, nearly every Israeli with whom I spoke felt pain for the innocent Palestinians in Gaza. Some felt that the way the war is being waged is a necessary evil; others disagreed vehemently. Yet all spoke out of a sense of patriotism and commitment to ensuring Israel’s safe and peaceful future. As an American, I know that it’s possible to love one’s country while disagreeing with the current government’s actions.
I saw this play out over and over again when I was in Israel.
One good friend shared her misgivings about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership – from the lapses that made it easier for Hamas to attack to the way the war in Gaza is being waged. She also explained that it seems to her Netanyahu’s strategies for the war are driven by his own political needs instead of what is best for the country. She pointed out that many people were protesting his policies before October 7th; now, even more people want to vote him out of office.
Her husband, on the other hand, believes that the war in Gaza is necessary to defeat Hamas. It’s necessary because Hamas has vowed to keep attacking Israel until it’s destroyed. It’s necessary to deter future attacks from Israel’s hostile neighbors. He emphasized that he regrets the civilian casualties but pointed out that Hamas uses human shields by setting up bases in schools and hospitals. He added that the destruction of Hamas is actually in the best interest of the Palestinian people, because of the harm Hamas is doing to its own people. He emphasized that Israel is trying to do its best in a very difficult situation.
These opinions were not unexpected, but a third conversation helped me see things more clearly. This conversation started with a friend looking around the room before leaning in to whisper, “I hate Bibi. I HATE him. But now is not the time for public criticism. We must be united.”
The diversity of the political perspectives in Israel is not often publicly discussed, and yet, regardless of political views, all the Israelis with whom I spoke were united in their eagerness to help in any way they could. For some, that meant serving in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) reserves, for others, working as trauma or grief counselors, and for still others, creating an entirely new organization working for the hostages’ release and supporting the families of the hostages. The resilience of Israelis is unparalleled; they have come together to support one another in this incredibly challenging time.
Everywhere we went, people thanked us for showing our support by being there in person. They shared how they feel the whole world is against them and isn’t willing to listen to their stories, even some of their closest allies: American Jews. They are feeling abandoned and alone in a hostile world.
I made sure to tell every Israeli with whom I spoke that I love them, support the people of Israel, and their right to live in safety. Period. Without question.
At the same time, the continually rising civilian death toll in Gaza pains me deeply. While Hamas remains responsible for much of the suffering of innocent Palestinians in Gaza it is incumbent on Israel to do what it can to facilitate the humanitarian aid. I worry about the current situation in Gaza, not only because of the tremendous toll it is taking on innocent civilians, but because of how Israel has been demonized internationally, leading to dramatically increased antisemitism around the world.
So, I am now left with a personal dilemma. How do I support the people of Israel and the right of my Israeli friends and loved ones to feel safe in their country while feeling so devastated about what is happening in Gaza? How do I reconcile my questions about the way this war is being waged with my love for Israel and its people? And how do I show up for my Israeli colleagues and friends in this time when a sense of unity is so important? I am swimming in conflicting emotions and thoughts.
In the meantime, I will continue thinking about the best ways to create a supportive and safe environment this summer at URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy for our Israeli delegation and all of our staff and campers. And I continue to pray for swift release of the hostages, more humanitarian aid to Gaza, and hope that somehow out of this tragedy, we will find a way to the only equitable resolution — two states for two peoples living in peace and security.