Robert Sanders
Rabbi Sam Trief, Avery Friedman (Temple Sinai’s Congregational Engagement Manager) as well as two congregants, Anna Roberto and Robert Sanders participated in the Reform Movement Alumni for Israel (RAFI) program. RAFI, a leadership program for American Reform Jews ages 22 to 35, offers the opportunity to strengthen a commitment to Israel and the Jewish people through travel, learning and friendship.
This past summer Avery, Anna and Robert traveled to Israel to participate in a week-long adventure to volunteer and learn. Robert shares a snapshot of his experience with us here.
The moment I entered Israel through Ben Gurion Airport and walked down the iconic Jerusalem Limestone ramp, I noticed hostage posters draped underneath the railings detailing the faces, names, and ages of the many hostages still suffering under Hamas’ terror. Sadly, many of these posters had more than 1 age listed – multiple birthdays in captivity. It was an immediate reminder that it is an intrinsic reality of the Israeli people to fight for their right to exist.
While I met so many people directly affected by 10/7, my most lasting memory of this trip was visiting the Nova Festival site, a living and breathing memorial to the terror inflicted upon our people. The site was once a beautiful celebration of life, but is now an eerie and quiet memorial in the desert. I saw hundreds of iron posts, each affixed with a picture of a Nova victim, and the story of their life.
I say living memorial because this is so fresh to Israeli minds. There are still hostages being held going on two years. It was impossible to forget because as I walked around, I could faintly hear bombs going off in the westward direction, sounds of IDF skirmishes in Gaza, bravely fighting for the faces I was looking at.
Despite all I have seen, Israelis still celebrate. Weddings still occur, IDF soldiers still celebrate victories, children still sing and laugh. And of course they do; the state of Israel has been our dream for thousands of years. It is a miracle we are alive to see it. For all the pain we have endured and continue to endure, each day I wake up and know it still exists in prosperity, I celebrate too.
