Related Blog Posts on Experiencing Israel, Israel, Israel Programs, Israel Travel, teens, URJ Heller High, and Youth Engagement

Dear Israel: A Story of Love and Longing

Ellie Rudee
In the pages of a hand-drawn picture book, your story first unfolded before me, telling the tale of my parents' first journey together to your distant lands.

Sam Griffin: Aftermath

Jean Bloch Rosensaft
Israeli artist Sam Griffin's paintings, forged in the crisis of war, convey the human capacity for healing and hope for a peaceful future for Israel and humankind.

I Have No Other Land

Rabbi Josh Scharff
This year, Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, finds me in a place that the past 10 years have not: in my birth country, the United States. My journey to and from Israel includes chapters that people can instinctively understand: a year of protesting judicial overhaul in Israel, the events of October 7th, and the bitter war in which we are still immersed.

Five Ways Adults Can Support Jewish Teen Mental Health

Rabbi Isaama Goldstein-Stoll
Rachel Margolis, RJE
Here are five key takeaways from the study, “Strength, Stress, and Support: A Portrait of Jewish Well-Being,” for adults looking to support teens’ mental health.

How The Collab Inspired Me

Josh Cooper
This year, I had the privilege of attending the NFTY Collab, a gathering that brings teens together from across North America to engage with each other, learn, and explore the future of Jewish life.

Global Jewish Solidarity in Times of Crisis

Maayan Aviv
The events of October 7th left an indelible mark on Israeli society, reshaping the nation in ways that have yet to be fully realized, and will be felt for generations. The solidarity so many Jewish communities around the world have expressed, along with emotional, financial, and actionable support, have been sources of hope and resilience.

Chutzpah in the Darkness: Finding Strength Through Jewish Resilience

Julie Silverstein
As a college student studying during a year abroad at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem years ago, I participated in programs offered by the Reform Movement’s Religious Action Center (RAC), which trained students to advocate for civil and human rights through a Jewish lens. That experience defined my Judaism as one rooted in action and activism.