In February, a dedicated group of participants returned home from a meaningful volunteer mission to Israel with Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Kohl Jewish Volunteer Center (Kohl JVC), part of its new partnership with Birthright Israel Foundation.
During the week-long experience, participants traveled throughout Israel, including Federation’s partnership region called TZAHAR — encompassing the cities of Tzfat, Hatzor Haglilit, and Rosh Pina. During their trip, they painted bomb shelters, met survivors of October 7, and more while strengthening the connection between Israel and the Palm Beaches.
Here, several participants reflect on the mission and the lasting impact it had on them.
Addie Zubatkin, Kohl JVC Chair
My recent trip to Israel was an absolutely incredible experience. Our group of 10 immersed ourselves in deeply meaningful, educational, spiritual, and rewarding opportunities, gaining a greater understanding of the current geopolitical climate and what daily life looks like in Israel at this moment.
We met with a range of diverse organizations, all working to rebuild in the aftermath of October 7. Our group supported these efforts by showing up, listening, volunteering, and standing in solidarity.
Much of Israel is still in a state of rebuilding. We visited cities including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Hatzor, Metula, Tzfat, and Kiryat Shmona, among others. In several of these communities, fewer than 50 percent of residents have returned since the war. Despite this, there is a clear determination to restore normalcy and move forward. I feel incredibly grateful to have contributed, even in a small way.
At the same time, I carry a deep concern for what lies ahead, for the continued challenges, the evolving realities, and the resilience that will once again be required. But if there is one thing that is certain, it is that Israel — and its people — are remarkably strong.
Some of the most meaningful moments of our trip included our volunteer work with several organizations:
• Sparks to Life, where we painted a bomb shelter at a school that serves 30 children. Our work helped transform the space into something brighter and more comforting during what are undoubtedly frightening moments.
• Latet, an organization supporting thousands facing food insecurity. Together, we joined an assembly line and packed 1,800 meals for those in need.
• Hazit Habayit, a completely volunteer-led organization that assists individuals and families who have been displaced or experienced severe hardship. From beds and appliances to artwork and children’s toys, they furnish entire homes at no cost. Notably, all returned hostages from Gaza were invited to “shop” for anything they needed as they began to rebuild their lives. Their impact is extraordinary; we were all incredibly impressed by their work.
We spent Shabbat at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, which was an immensely special experience. Our group bonded, sharing in a range of intense emotions we felt in the moment. There was joy, sadness, gratitude, and reflection as we felt connected to each other and something much larger.
Our trip was eye-opening, enriching, rewarding, and most of all deeply impactful. It was an honor to bear witness and be present with our extended Jewish family in Israel. The connections we made, both with the people of Israel and each other, will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Deirdre Fox
At 48 years old, this was my first time visiting Israel, and as a Jewish woman the experience was deeply meaningful. What stayed with me most were the people. Throughout the trip we met individuals living through incredibly difficult circumstances, yet they welcomed us with warmth, honesty, and remarkable resilience.
Hearing their stories face-to-face rather than through headlines made everything feel more immediate and personal. It was impossible not to feel the weight of the moment, but also the strength of the community around us.
This mission was made possible by the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, whose thoughtful planning and deep relationships on the ground opened doors I never could have accessed on my own. The trip was impeccably organized, but more importantly it was intentional.
Because of the Federation’s longstanding partnerships in Israel, we were able to meet people where they live and work, listen to their experiences, and volunteer in ways that felt genuinely meaningful. It was a powerful reminder that the work the Federation does at home truly connects to and supports real lives thousands of miles away.
I returned home with a deeper understanding of Israel and the Jewish people that I believe only comes from being there, standing in those places, meeting the people who live there, and witnessing both the challenges and the extraordinary resilience of the community. Just days after we returned to the United States, war broke out again in many of the same places we had visited. Watching the news now, I don’t just see locations on a map, I see the faces of the people we met there. We arrived as strangers, but left feeling like family.
Traci Kaplan
This volunteer mission to Israel unfolded as so much more than a trip — it was an awakening. We learned together, connected deeply, shared stories, laughed until we cried, and cried because it mattered. We volunteered, we explored this breathtaking country, we listened closely, and we allowed ourselves to truly absorb what we were seeing and hearing. Through every moment, one word kept rising to the surface: resilience.
Hearing directly from survivors and witnessing the destruction was heavy, humbling, and heartbreaking — something I will never forget. But what impacted me even more was the strength I saw in the people. Their courage. Their determination. Their refusal to be defined by what happened to them. The resilience of this land and its people is not abstract — it is lived, visible, and powerful. It is a quiet but unshakable fight to rebuild, to hope, and to move forward. That resilience will stay with me forever, reminding me that even in the face of devastation, the human spirit can rise, endure, and lead with extraordinary strength.
Resilience. This is the one word that best defines this amazing experience. And this word is even more meaningful in the wake of what has unfolded since we returned from our mission. I am forever grateful for this experience and for the people who shared it with me.
Jennifer Frank
My trip to Israel became something far more emotional than I ever expected. I arrived with a group of strangers and left feeling like I gained a family. While we explored the country and learned about its history, the moments that will stay with me most were the ones spent volunteering and giving back.
I met people whose lives had been disrupted by war and bombings — families who had been displaced, communities working to rebuild, and individuals showing incredible strength in the face of uncertainty. Walking the streets of a city to see rocket craters and rubble where homes once stood was more powerful than any clip I had ever seen on U.S. news.
The elementary school bomb shelter I helped paint will make the next horrific experience a little less scary. The person who may not have known where the next meal was coming from will get a box of food I helped pack. The family looking to rebuild can pick from clothes, furniture, and household items I helped sort.
Being able to help, even in small ways, made me see that this trip wasn’t just about visiting Israel; it was about standing with its people. It was about being part of a community united by purpose and shared history. It was about participating in something so much larger than myself to help the Israeli people and ensure the future of the state of Israel.
In those moments of service, I felt a deeper connection — not only to Israel, but to the resilience, compassion, and solidarity that bring people together during difficult times.
I came home with gratitude, perspective, and a stronger commitment. My heart is full, heavy, and forever changed.
