We’re wrapping up day three of NCJW’s Leadership Journey to Israel and it was a powerful one. I visited the Gaza Envelope in February, 2024 but the sting of bearing witness to what happened there on October 7, 2023 does not abate.

Today was filled with emotion and strength, as we witnessed the lasting impact of October 7 through the stories of women leading efforts to heal, rebuild, and seek justice. From Ayelet Razin’s work documenting gender-based violence to our visits in Kfar Aza and the Nova site, we heard firsthand accounts that brought the human dimensions of the tragedy into sharp focus. 

Looking at this moment through a gender lens, we stopped in Givat HaTaspitaniot (roughly translated to Hill of the Women Observation Soldiers), a memorial in honor of the young women serving in the military who were murdered and taken hostage. I introduced Professor Ayelet Harel as she told us about her investigation into how the spotters had shared information about troubling activity in Gaza before October 7, but it was not credited by male superiors, underscoring the need to have women in decision-making roles. We then went to the Eden Association, which specializes in treating trauma among girls and women. CEO Ronit Shoval shared how their trauma recovery model has grown to meet the needs of women and girls in the Gaza Envelope, and the October 7th HerPhoto exhibit offered a moving look at resilience through art and storytelling. We closed with a hopeful conversation featuring peacemakers Yael Brauho-Bahat and Neta Heiman from Women Wage Peace, and Ghadir Hani from Standing Together, whose activism reminds us that healing and change are already taking root.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow, where we will immerse ourselves in the heart of Israeli democracy by visiting historic sites such as the Israeli Knesset and the Israeli Supreme Court and engaging with thought leaders, lawmakers, and activists.