Fifty American high school students recently spent a week volunteering in Israel on Jewish National Fund-USA’s teen volunteer in Israel mission, traveling all over the country and making a difference in the lives of Israelis during their summer break.
Whether making care packages for Israeli soldiers or planting crops on farms in the Negev Desert, the teens brought relief and aid to a country in desperate need of both. The farm work was particularly important, as the students filled an important gap in the country’s labor shortage.
“Being in Atlanta, it’s so hard being so far away from Israel,” said Mira, 16. “I’m here to help because that’s what I want to do. When we’re here, it just feels like home. Coming to Israel, seeing the country, and making a difference is the best thing you could possibly do.”
In addition to providing necessary support, the students also gained a firsthand perspective of the stark realities Israel faces and the tragic losses the country has already endured. They visited the site of the Nova Music Festival Massacre in Kibbutz Re’im, while a visit to Hostage Square in Tel Aviv reminded them of the families who still haven’t been made whole.
Furthermore, each stop in Israel’s south showed the teens how close Israel’s adversaries are to its borders, as well as the devastation that occurred in many of the southern Israeli communities ravaged by Hamas. And yet, despite the tragedy, the students’ main impression was to be in awe of the resilience and unity of everyday Israelis, who have banded together like never before.
“I wanted to do my part to help the Jewish nation, but being here has been an eye-opening experience,” said Abram, 16, a California native. “I thought the country would be more solemn with war, but everything feels normal even with the underlying sadness. It’s been a really unique experience that I don’t think most people get. I would tell anyone to come and help.”
The mission was organized by Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss), Jewish National Fund-USA’s college prep, study abroad in Israel experience for American teens. Students spent nights at the school’s brand-new, state-of-of-the-art Muss South campus in Beersheva. In between site visits, Muss educators discussed Israel’s history and the latest developments in the current situation.
“Before I came to Israel, I didn’t really understand everything that was going on,” said Ora, 16, from Baltimore. “But the teachers explain everything so well, telling us exactly what we need to know about the war and Israel in general. I just feel like I’m being exposed to everything important in the country.”
To learn more about Jewish National Fund-USA’s teen volunteer missions, visit jnf.org/teenvolunteeril or contact Andrea Schleider at Aschleider@amhsi.org or 212.472.9300 x482.
