“Israel has always held a profound place in my heart and soul, and this journey only deepened that passion,” said Julia Assef, 45, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
For many organizations, bringing a group of young women to Israel, each of whom had already visited multiple times, and keeping them engaged may have posed a challenge.
But not for Evolve Hadassah: The Next Generation.
“The depth and breadth of content in this trip was more than I could have expected,” said Rachel Chernoff, 46, of Deerfield, Illinois, one of 10 women who experienced Evolve Leadership Fellows’ nine-day tour of Israel this February. “The itinerary was so thorough and comprehensive, a true mix of intensely exciting highs and important but devastating lows.”
The warm embrace of Hadassah Neurim Youth Aliyah Village students and the heartfelt welcome of Israelis still healing in the aftermath of October 7, 2023. The emotion on the faces of the medical heroes at Hadassah hospitals when telling their stories. The new friendships. These are just some of the elements that contributed to a truly unforgettable trip.
Witnessing Hadassah Healing
At Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, the Fellows gathered in a classroom, eyes facing forward to where Dr. Esi Sharon-Sagi, Dr. Sasha Satanovsky and Dr. Shiri Ben-David gave a lesson on resilience. The doctors shared how their October 7 started and where it took them, professionally and personally, immersing the Fellows in stories about identifying body after body using dental records, deciding where to evacuate wounded soldiers and treating the mental health of hundreds of patients enduring physical and mental trauma.
A stop at the Gandel Rehabilitation Center at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus gave the Fellows an insider look into the cutting-edge equipment that aids in patient recovery, including the hydrotherapy pool and NASA-level anti-gravity treadmills, as well as the occupational therapy room for wounded soldiers to practice everyday tasks. The opening of the center was expedited to meet the pressing need for rehabilitation after October 7.
Experiencing a slice of life for the Hadassah Neurim students who work at the village’s agriculture center, animal sanctuary and dog rehabilitation center, the Fellows got their hands dirty feeding goats, seeding and painting dog beds.
They observed an even more significant part of life for the students — being safe and supported. The Fellows chatted with some of the students, including Jewish refugees who fled war-torn Ukraine.
“One of them shared that the youth village had ‘saved her life,’ a testament to the profound impact of this haven,” said Assef.
Diana Silver, 39, from Lake Worth, Florida, arrived inspired by her mother. “My mom went on a Hadassah trip. She talked about the hospitals and youth villages, so I’m excited to see that side of Israel.”
Mission accomplished. “Seeing the village firsthand has greatly impacted me,” she said. “Knowing some of these students’ stories from before they moved to the village and seeing how the village has positively impacted the course of their lives is so moving. At the hospitals, we heard from a panel of very strong women about their jobs there and being called into army reserve duty on October 7. Their strength and experiences are remarkable.”
Seeing the Sites, Meeting the People
From the sacred grounds of the Kotel and ancient port city of Jaffa to the future-forward Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, with a tour of Yad Vashem, Henrietta Szold’s final resting place and more, the Fellows adventured through Israel’s past and future.
“In the nearly 30 years since my last trip to Israel, my memories and connection to the country had faded,” said Danielle Feldman, 44, of Sonoma County, California. “Now that I’ve been here again, I remember the love for Israel that I felt as a teenager.”
But for many, it was the present that pulled at their heartstrings. Bearing witness to the atrocities of October 7 was profoundly poignant and hammered home just how strong the Israeli people are.
“Being there in person puts what happened into a different perspective, seeing their faces and reading their stories of how loved they are,” said Silver about the Fellows’ visit to the Nova Music Festival site, which brought tears to many eyes as they saw the rows of wooden posts featuring the faces of those murdered and kidnapped.
“The next day we witnessed soldiers singing, dancing and just enjoying life…. Being able to dance along with them made the sadness of seeing Nova come full circle and bring some joy into everyone’s lives.”
Looking Forward
Being back in the States doesn’t mean their Hadassah journeys end.
“If anything, I am now doubling down on my commitment to Hadassah,” said Tory Roman, 45, of Piedmont, California. “When you meet people who have been directly impacted by Hadassah’s work, it emboldens you to spread its objectives and fundraise with even more vigor. I will forever be grateful for this experience.”
“Prior to this trip, I hadn’t made the connection to Hadassah’s work in Israel that I needed to be a Hadassah leader,” said Feldman. “Now that I’ve visited the medical facilities and talked with providers, and spent time at the Neurim youth village, I’ll be able to wholeheartedly advocate for Hadassah’s needs while encouraging others to get involved.”
Making Friends
“I was blown away by the caliber of women,” said Chernoff, who now “has deep connections with women whom I had never met before as well as with women I’ve had the honor of knowing for the last year and a half.”
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