Perspectives - A Unique and Unforgettable Israel Experience

This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to travel across Israel with a cohort of Jewish and non-Jewish student leaders on our campus. What sets this trip apart from other Israel tours is its emphasis on absorbing nuanced perspectives about the land, and what it means to live there. There were many moments of intensity on our trip, where we grappled with a multitude of difficult realities faced in the region. I am proud to have traveled with such an intelligent, compassionate, and open-minded group of students. Already on the first night of the trip, my newfound friends asked loaded questions regarding how to spot media bias, how to speak about conflict empathetically, and even if it was even ethical to be in Israel at a time of war. Over the next 10 days, we would discover an array of voices across Israel advocating for truth and for peace, as well as the history and current policies of the land itself. One of which we all agree we were moved by was Arab Israeli journalist Lucy Arish, who made the claim that a lack of understanding and a fear of the “other” is what drives violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Another is New York Times writer Rami Nazzal, a Palestinian with East Jerusalem residency that shared immense frustration with both Israeli and Palestinian policy. He pointed out discriminatory government actions and strategies that incite violence on both sides, but also how the majority of people living in the region would like to see themselves the same as their neighbor. With these stories, students were able to look at Israel/Palestine critically, but also devote themselves to their time there. Together, we experienced the beautiful Golan Heights, the bustling Machane Yehuda market, the historical Old City landmarks, and the iconic Tel Aviv beach. My friends quickly noted the diversity of languages, religions, clothing, and food that surrounded us. Moreover, we grasped the warmth and joy of the Israeli spirit. Now that we are back home and holding onto these memories, we would like to share the aspects of the trip we found most meaningful with you! 

“Perspectives was a life changing experience! Visiting Jerusalem’s holiest sites to its bustling shuk, Tel Aviv’s high tech landscape to a child heart surgery non-profit, we engaged in Israel’s ancient and modern culture. Talking with both Israelis and Palestinians, we learned about the multiethnic inhabitants first hand. Swimming in the Dead Sea and sailing the Galilee, we appreciated the beautiful land. Experiencing the Nova festival and border regions, we learned about the political and human realities.” -Danny Rose, Graduate

Historical Sites 

“The Sea of Galilee and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre were very special for me as a Christian.” -Xander Hepburn, 4th Year 

The Old City of Jerusalem is at the heart of many religious beliefs. Most notably, Jerusalem holds the third holiest site in Islam (the Al-Aqsa Mosque), the holiest site in Christianity (the Church of the Holy Sepulchre), and the holiest site in Judaism (the kotel, or Western Wall). Many of the Jewish participants on the trip, including myself, had never gotten to experience the important sites for Christians and Muslims. We all learned so much from one another on this portion of the trip, and got to enjoy the fascinating history and intricate design of each of these places. 

“I was extremely surprised to learn that Muslims are given preferential treatment at Al-Aqsa mosque, whereas Jews and gentiles are purposefully segregated from the mosque. One typically hears the counter narrative: that Muslims are barred and Jews welcome. Very interesting and surprising.” -Neo Harter, 4th Year

“I visited the western wall a few times but my favorite was when I went barefoot at midnight. I left our hotel intentionally without shoes, and enjoyed the cobblestone of Jerusalem. The Western Wall was packed with people. My friend Nick offered his shirt to our female friend Maya because she had uncovered shoulders. That left him in bare overalls but everyone was still respectful and didn’t bother him. There were IDF soldiers carrying rifles all over and I learned that part of their training is to visit the wall. Overall it was an amazing experience I’ll never forget!” -Xander Hepburn, 4th Year

We also visited the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. There, we took a boat out on the water and enjoyed views of Tiberias and the Golan Heights. 

Cultural Experiences 

“My favorite moments on the trip were exploring the markets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with the group, and also sharing large meals over stories of family cooking in a Druze village.” -Connor Fellows, 5th Year

Something that stood out to my peers was the diversity of people living in Israel. While the majority of the population is Jewish at 74%, Israel is also 18% Muslim, 1.9% Christian, and 1.6% Druze. Participants noticed that life for Jewish people looks very different in kibbutzim, vs. Jerusalem, vs. Tel Aviv. Along with grasping different streams of Jewish life in Israel, we also got to experience a Druze meal in the village of Kursa-Samia and explore Arab shuks in Jerusalem and Jaffa. 

“My most joyful moment on the trip was by far having an interaction with the Palestinian jewelry store owner, Samir, in Jaffa. Being able to visit the town my family is from, and meet Arab civilians who live there and maintain lifestyles, relations, and businesses against many odds, and in such a futile time, inspired me and fills me with joy to this day when I think about it.” -Olivia Doss, 2nd Year

My peers were phenomenal when it came to embracing peoples’ differences, and celebrating what makes these distinct cultures unique and beautiful. Notably, a handful of our participants left with several pieces of garb, including magen david necklaces, kippot, and multi-colored kaffiyas indicating different Arab tribes.  

“Something I took back with me was not associating religion with  hate. There has always been judgment in America when it comes to Judaism and Islam as it is a Christian dominant culture. However, after the 9/11 attacks, Islam has seen the worst discrimination in America than ever before. To this very day the consequences of the terrorists still harm those who practice Islamic teachings. The war after October 7th also doesn’t help the case of religion as its own entity. People forget it is the behavior of immoral people that cause harm, not the religion itself. People may use the teachings to justify their actions but at the end of the day it is the individual who has to face judgement for their own decisions.” -Gema Toledo, 4th Year

Regarding October 7th and the War in Gaza 

“The hardest part of the trip was going to the site of the Nova Festival and bearing witness to such a recent tragic event.” -Nicholas Tait, 4th Year

On our trip we hit the 700th day of war between Israel and Gaza, and 700 days since 251 people were taken hostage by Hamas. On day 700, there were still 48 hostages being held in Gaza, with their families and loved ones relentlessly calling to bring them home. Our group attended the 700 days protest in Jerusalem. This was one of the most meaningful moments on the trip for me. My peers stood together with strangers in the streets of Jerusalem, who have been fighting for their loved ones for almost two years. That act of solidarity showed a deep understanding and care for what Israelis have been through since October 7th. 

The next day, we headed to the Gaza envelope to visit the Nova site, the town of Sderot, and Kibbutz Kfar Azza. 

“Something that meant a lot to me was meeting with people whose lives were greatly affected by Oct 7th. It was extremely courageous of them to share their stories.” -Connor Fellows, 5th Year

At the Nova site, we heard the story of Nova survivor Rita Yadid. She explained how she’s been working through the trauma by sharing her story, and ensuring that other survivors receive care for their mental health. Despite the many difficulties she’s faced in the past few years, she expressed that gratitude for every day is crucial for her healing and for a fulfilling life. 

Later that day, we visited Kibbutz Kfar Azza, the most tragic and complex stop on our trip. At the kibbutz where we were standing, we saw the ruins of the October 7th massacre. We were told stories of the people who lived there, and shown images depicting what it looked like the next day. We were able to step into one of the destroyed homes. There were more bullet holes in the walls than what would be necessary. We were bearing witness to heartless, relentless murder. On the other hand, while we were witnessing all of this, we were hearing bombs drop only four miles away in Gaza. However, as we walked through the rest of the kibbutz, we shared a heartwarming moment that lifted our spirits. Ishika and Gema both recall this as a moment that was meaningful to them.

“The most joyful moment of the trip for me was immediately after the most heartbreaking. Kibbutz Kfar Aza was the most gut-wrenching thing I’ve ever experienced, seeing the homes of victims of October 7th. I would say everyone felt heavy grief and it was certainly a defining moment on the trip. But after this, as we were all walking through the Kibbutz, we stumbled upon a group of teenagers that were repainting a building of some sort, and without hesitation, all of us jumped in to join them. It was incredibly touching to be a part of that and a part of the hope and rebuilding for the future. It meant so much to me, I still think about it every single day when I see the paint on my shoes.” -Ishika Sharma, 2nd Year

“Their unbreakable spirit had brought hope in my heart.” -Gema Toledo, 4th Year 

Lasting Thoughts 

In Israel, we were exposed to challenging questions regarding geopolitics, law, and security. We grappled with what it means to defend the Lebanese and Syrian borders, and what it means when Israelis settle in the West Bank. There are religious extremists, but in communities such as Alphai Menashe, Israelis affirm that they are there for the safety of Israel due to its geographical advantage atop hills, overlooking the densely populated center of the country. We also struggled with the notion of Israeli citizenship vs. Palestinian residency, and how Palestinians living in Israel face many disadvantages due to their status. In fact, we spoke with three Palestinians, who especially expressed their resentment toward the Israeli government. However, as stated prior, everyone who met with our group told us that they want to live peacefully among anyone who considers this stretch of land home. 

I asked participants what they’re still thinking about since the trip, and what they’ve brought back with them. This is what they said. 

“Something that I take back with me is that there are not just two sides but all different points of view with varying degrees of extremity.” -Nicholas Tait, 4th Year

“It was tough for me to see a nation that was so divided. We experience that here in the US with our own version of political division, but in Israel, it’s very very intense. It’s literally existential. We experienced a lot of division while we were there. We experienced people with very different ideas talking about it. This was tough to see through the framework of national unity.” -Neo Harter, 4th Year

“Something I’ve taken back with me from the trip is the strength and resilience of the people in the Middle East. I think sometimes we tend to divide the groups in that area and focus on one grief at a time, but in many ways that I look at it, civilians in so many countries are unsafe and have no guarantee of a protective government. It’s really hard being in the United States where I feel that my security is guaranteed after visiting Israel. Many of the people we talked to, Israelis and Palestinians, had no such sense of protection in their own homes.” -Ishika Sharma, 2nd Year

“The most significant thing that I have taken back with me from the trip is hope. Being exposed to extraordinary speakers, diverse perspectives and visiting sites significant to conflict and religion, has shown me that despite the trauma and the pain, at the end of the day, people want peace, stability for their kids not to ever know war. We all learned that pushing extremist agendas divides people and leads us further from working towards peace. I have hope because if we keep having conversations and bridging gaps, there will be peace.” -Romi Riss, 2nd Year

Moments of Joy 

This cohort was an outstanding group of friends that could embrace both the serious and the lighthearted. It’s like we go to the work hard play hard school. I also asked participants what on our trip brought them joy, as these moments are also fundamental in the essence of our Israel experience together. 

“The most joyful moment on the trip for me was our first visit to the Machane Yehudah Shuk in Jerusalem. Exploring the Shuk on Thursday night (the best night), we had so much fun. At that point we were three days into the trip, having bonded with this group of old and new friends through our travels, beautiful experiences, and tough conversations. Between the Challah Schnitzel sandwiches and Limon Arak, dancing and singing in the streets, it was incredible.” -Nadiv Meltzer, 4th Year

“A moment that brought me joy was when we met the children from Save a Child’s Heart Foundation. I was pretty hung over from the night before since, you know, it’s Tel Aviv; but those kids were the best medicine I could have asked for. Instantaneous relief when I saw them. So funny and so playful. So charismatic and charming. I miss them all the time. I hope my kids are as resilient and uplifting as those guys (they definitely will be).” -Neo Harter, 4th Year 

Maybe the Solution to Conflict in the Middle East are the Friends we Made Along the Way

I asked participants how they felt traveling in this cohort of student leaders from UCSB. It turns out that we like each other very much :) 

“I loved that our speakers and travel group included people who were intimately familiar with Israel’s culture and politics. It made the sites we saw mean more and allowed me to get a deeper understanding of the people and culture. It also showed to me some of the biases in the way they thought about the Israel and Palestine conflict. I came in with an unbiased and uninformed view of the conflict, and I think that helped me to spot the ethical inconsistencies in what they were saying.  Although for the same reason I saw the same thing in some of the Palestinian speakers we talked to. Both sides are entrenched in their views and I think that will make it almost impossible for the conflict to ever end in a peaceful resolution. With that being said this was one of the most impactful experiences of my life, and I cannot thank everyone who was involved enough.” -Anonymous Participant 

“Something that meant a lot to me on the trip was the ability to have a small cohort of students who were able to bring up tough or even controversial issues and proceed with them in a respectful way. The ability of our whole student group to have such important conversations about these very serious topics showed me that progress is possible, and gave me hope that seeds can be planted for people to open up their minds to other perspectives.” -Olivia Doss, 2nd Year

“The most meaningful aspect of the trip was the group that we explored these complex and layered topics with. When learning about so many issues with so many perspectives, from the violence in Syria to the opposing ideas of a long-term solution in Israel, it was meaningful to be able to process this with other students who are not afraid to pose difficult questions, listen to new opinions and learn from each other. I admire the intellectual insight that every other student approached our conversations with, and the emotional depth and comfort we were able to reach to truly learn and grow together.” -Romi Riss, 2nd Year

This is a trip that will resonate with us for the rest of our lives. I am endlessly grateful to have had this experience, and grateful for the people I shared it with. 

A Concluding Thought by Danny Rose

“My metaphor of the trip is an onion. At first glance the region can make you want to cry, but as you cut into it layer by layer, you’ll find it irresistible. And, there’s no one better with whom to cook and share this experience than a group of student ambassadors, who left as good friends and each with the recipe to make change back on campus. B’teavon!” -Danny Rose, Graduate