By Debbie Knight, Evolve Hadassah Chair
I just returned from the Evolve Hadassah Heart to Heart mission, a trip designed specifically for younger women in Hadassah to show solidarity, to bear witness, to volunteer and to let Israelis know that we support them. We did that and so much more. What I did not expect was that being in Israel now would make me stronger and even fill my soul with hope.
On the surface, things seem to be normal, life goes on, flowers are blooming, the markets are busy. And yet, dig a little deeper, and you see that everyone has been touched –– everyone has a story. They are all absolutely heart broken, angry and sad. At the same time, they are more unified than ever, they are determined and resilient. Their commitment to their country and to each other is unwavering.
There is nothing like being there in person to connect one on one. More than what I saw or did, I will forever remember the personal connections, the stories and the hugs.
We visited the Hadassah Medical Organization’s brand new rehab center at the Mount Scopus campus in Jerusalem. We met with a patient –– Michal, a nurse and mother of 10 –– who was at an army base on the fateful Shabbat of October 7 and had been shot three times by a terrorist while trying to save a female soldier. She was shot in her chest, her abdomen and her arm. She was one of the first patients to be treated at Hadassah due to the severity of her injuries and has had countless surgeries. She is now in outpatient rehab and the only sign of her injuries is her arm in a sling. She is working to regain the full use of her hand. She went through an unimaginable ordeal, and while she is frustrated that she can’t do her daughter’s ponytail yet, she is grateful for the miracle of her survival and hopeful for peace.
The day we went south to visit Kibbutz Be’eri and the Nova music festival site, we volunteered for three hours packing and sorting vegetables to be sent to displaced residents. Shlomi, the head of the center, gave us our instructions, along with coffee and candy. He was all smiles and so thankful for our help. Over lunch, he shared his story of being a teacher and having to explain the unexplainable to his students, in trying to protect them from the horrors and to help them feel some sense of safety. Shlomi broke down in tears. As an an utlra-Orthodox man, he could not accept our hugs. Still, we conveyed our love and caring through our smiles and our own tears.
Thursday afternoon we were in the Machane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem, and it was bustling with activity. A friend and I spotted a craft beer stall and decided to have a seat at the bar. Roy, the bartender, was so friendly with a big smile, he let me taste many beers before making my choice. Then he insisted on doing shots of tequila with us. The music was pumping, we were laughing. He had a green cap on backwards and so we asked what team it was –– the Celtics! My friend and I are from Boston so a lively discussion followed. We mentioned Kibbutz Be’eri and Nova and he started to cry. He is a soldier who was serving in Gaza until just a few weeks ago and will probably be headed back in another few weeks. And then we were crying. That connection with Roy the bartender –– Roy the soldier –– will stay with me and I will be praying for his continued safety.
I went to Israel to help the people be strong when, in fact, they gave me strength. Michal, Shlomi and Roy –– just a few of the incredibly resilient, strong, hopeful Israelis that I met. Their stories, their strength will stay with me forever.
Learn More
Find out about Evolve Hadassah: The Next Generation
Houston’s Evolve Hadassah Hears from Israeli Connector
Sign up for upcoming Hadassah Travel trips to Israel
