Crystal Tjahja, an undergraduate student studying business at Arizona State University, always felt a connection to Israel through her faith. Yet, her understanding of the country was mostly shaped by biblical stories and historical lessons. That changed when she participated in Jewish National Fund-USA’s Caravan for Democracy, an immersive experience that brought her to Israel to witness its modern-day realities firsthand.
The fully subsidized, 10-day program provides student leaders beyond the Jewish faith who have never been to Israel with the chance to explore Israel’s history, culture and contributions to the world. The goal is to foster constructive dialogue about Israel and the Middle East on U.S. college campuses. Participants engage with community leaders, political figures and everyday citizens from diverse backgrounds and faiths, gaining insights that challenge media narratives and bring them face-to-face with the complexities of Israeli society.
“The trip was much more than just a tour around Israel,” said Tjahja. “It was a life-changing experience that not only deepened my connection to the land and its people but also strengthened my understanding of the resilience and strength that runs through the heart of Israel.”
For Tjahja, the trip’s most profound impact came from visiting a memorial site dedicated to the victims of Oct. 7. “Standing there, knowing what had happened to the people on that very ground, my heart shattered,” she said. “Words cannot express the anger, frustration and grief I felt in that moment.”
The weight of the tragedy became deeply personal when she learned that many of the victims were her own age. “Their lives were just beginning, and then they were tragically taken,” she said. “I don’t want them to be remembered as just a number or a statistic. Their legacies must live on in a meaningful way.”
The mission also reshaped Tjahja’s understanding of Israel’s diversity.
“Prior to this experience, I had associated Judaism mostly with European Jews,” she said. “But through the speakers I met and the people I encountered, I realized how inaccurate that perception was. Israel is a 3,000-year-old homeland for Jewish people from all over the world. This newfound perspective shifted my understanding of Israel as a place defined not only by its history but by the ongoing stories of the people who call it home.”
Tjahja’s experience ignited a new passion within her—not just to be an ally for Israel but to speak out against the misinformation she recognizes on her college campus. Now back at Arizona State University, she says she is determined to share her experience and the truth she witnessed.
“I will honor their memory, I will stand up for what is right, support Jewish students and ensure they know that they are not alone,” she said. “I will advocate for truth, justice and the values that make us stronger together.”
Tjahja’s passion for Israel is deeply rooted in personal understanding, a mission she intends to carry forward.
“The victims of Oct. 7 have left a mark on my heart,” she said. “Their pain is my pain. Their fight is my fight. I will carry their story with me, always.”
To learn more about Jewish National Fund-USA’s Caravan for Democracy, visit: jnf.org/caravan.