A delegation of approximately 40 students from the Frisch School, a Modern Orthodox Jewish high school in New Jersey, arrived in Israel this week on a special mission: to strengthen the bond between American Jewish youth and the State of Israel.
The visit was organized through a partnership between Emunah, a leading religious Zionist women’s organization in Israel, and its sister movement in the United States.
“This visit changed my life.”
During their time in Israel, the students participated in a variety of volunteer and educational activities. These included harvesting crops, visiting hospitals, joining children in youth villages across the country, and even running in the Jerusalem Marathon. They also visited Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where they witnessed firsthand the resilience of Israeli society.
“Visiting Israel during this period changed my life,” one student shared. “Seeing and feeling the strength of the Israeli people, and being part of community-focused activities—especially visiting wounded IDF soldiers at Sheba Medical Center—gave me a new perspective on our identity as Jews and our connection to the Land of Israel.”
Building Bridges Across the Sea
Yifat Sela, chairwoman of Emunah in Israel, praised the students’ decision to visit during such a sensitive time:
“Seeing young Jews from the U.S. come to Israel during wartime illustrates the powerful connection between Jewish communities around the world and the people of Israel,” she said.
Sela emphasized that these kinds of encounters are vital for both sides: “These meetings strengthen not just the youth themselves, but everyone involved.”
