Excerpts from Art Paikowsky's solidarity mission journalOver the past several weeks, as the situation in Israel became more troubled, I found myself becoming increasingly more depressed. And then, I decided to join the United Jewish Communities sponsored Solidarity Mission departing on Oct. 29. ...From the moment I decided to go, I began to feel better. And, as the others signed on, frankly I became energized. I knew that thousands of others had cancelled plans to go and that's exactly why I knew that it was imperative that I go now. ... And now, as I fly home, I tell you that it was unequivocally one of the best decisions that I have ever made as a Jew. And, here's why: The Israelis we came into contact with expressed in the most heartfelt and meaningful ways how important it was to them that we came. It restored their belief that Jews in the Diaspora really do care. It was best expressed on the faces of the school children that we visited in our Partnership 2000 sister city of Kiryat Malachi and the residents of Netiv Ha Sarah who live in the shadows of Gaza City. Make no mistake, the small measure of moral support that we provided made the entire trip worthwhile. |
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