This November, I will travel to Israel with National Council of Jewish Women. There has never been a more urgent time for us to be present and examine the landscape through a gender lens.

 I will co-lead this trip with NCJW CEO Sheila Katz, our past CEO Nancy Kaufman, and past president Dana Gershon. Together, we look forward to welcoming Jewish women who are ready to engage deeply in this moment — on a journey with leading women activists and visionaries committed to peace.

This is a critical time to bear witness and to learn from those directly impacted by the horrific attacks of October 7, 2023, and the war that followed. We will meet with Israeli and Palestinian civil society leaders, judges, parents, and organizations. We will visit the site of the Nova music festival massacre as well as the kibbutzim and communities attacked on October 7. We will stand near the Gaza border and learn from organizations providing humanitarian aid.

The trip is designed around a diversity of perspectives — listening, learning, and seeking to understand from those who have been living this trauma as their daily reality for two years. We will meet with NCJW’s grantees and fellows, including representatives from top feminist organizations like Women Wage Peace, Israeli Women’s Network, and Itach-Maaki (Women Leaders for Social Justice).

Traveling always takes courage — and certainly traveling to Israel right now — just as it does to show up in our schools, our synagogues, and our Capitol here in the United States. And still, we show up, because we must. With robust safety measures in place, we welcome you to join us in this act of hope and solidarity.

Courage means showing up — whether in Israel, in our own communities, or anywhere justice calls us. I am deeply proud of NCJW, of this journey, and of the advocates who will come with us to learn from those impacted every day in Israel. This trip is not just a visit; it is a testament to our commitment to living our values in every moment. We will return fueled with stories, calls to action, and information to guide our advocacy. 

I welcome all NCJW advocates and friends of NCJW to join us as we carry the voices and values we all share into this critical time in Israel.

Do not miss this opportunity: ncjw.org/israeljourney