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April 4, 2003/Nisan 2 5763, Vol. 55, No. 32
Missing missions
Travel to Israel declines in face of war
JESSICA BARBER
Staff Writer
Participation in local and national trips to Israel has waned in recent weeks as a result of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the potential dangers the war poses to international travelers and tourists.
The United Jewish Communities' most recent national mission to Israel, scheduled March 23-28, was cancelled as most participants rescheduled their trips to later dates, according to Glenn Rosenkrantz, media affairs director of the UJC in New York City.
Security on missions continues to be on heightened status, as it has been since the beginning of the intifada in September 2000, said Rosenkrantz. However, that does not appear to appease the worries of American Jewish travelers.
The Phoenix Jewish community had a contingent of three people traveling to Israel on the March mission. All three decided to postpone or cancel, said Robin Loeb, missions director at the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.
"These are people who had absolutely committed to going into the situation in Israel, but ... what has now unfolded with the war and the global situation was the reason (for cancellations)," said Loeb.
None of the three could be reached for comment.
Paradise Valley resident Mim Bottner, who traveled on a UJC mission to Israel in December, postponed a trip to Israel with friends in March.
"We had all been many times before, and we were going to do the things you don't get to do when you're on a mission," said Bottner. "The intifada wasn't going to stop us from going, but since war broke out, that put a whole extra blanket of worry on it."
In addition, students studying at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel program were sent home nine days early in response to a recent U.S. State Department warning that all nonessential personnel should leave the Middle East. No local students participated in the program's February session, but four local students are interested in participating in the June session, said Elaine Hirsch of the Bureau of Jewish Education.
Linda Flaster of Phoenix plans to send her son, Jacob, to Israel on the AMHSI program this summer.
"Having my son go to high school in Israel seems like the right thing to do," Flaster said. "When you have teenagers, there is lots to worry about and many things you have to say 'no' to. But a trip to Israel isn't one of them."
Although questions of safety have discouraged many from traveling to the Middle East, Synthia Wills, 20, has not let the dangers of war interrupt her studies in Israel. Wills, daughter of Bonnie and Stan Wills of Scottsdale, has been living in Jerusalem since the beginning of the school year as part of the Young Judaea year course program.
"She doesn't want to come home," says Stan Wills. "She loves it there and wants to go back to school there next fall. Right now, I'm not comfortable with that."
Synthia Wills, according to the security rules set by Young Judaea, is required to own a gas mask, avoid certain areas known for violent acts, abide by publicly set curfews and keep a cell phone handy 24 hours a day.
"The only thing that affects her are the limitations as to where she can go for security reasons," said Stan Wills. "She believes (Israel) is where she belongs ... and whatever will be, will be. I am not happy about her decisions, but I guess there is a time when you have to let go."
The BJE will continue to encourage participation in studying overseas, including at an Israel fair on April 9 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus. Also, Chaim Fischgrund, head-master of AMHSI, recently traveled to Phoenix to discuss the program with Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School and The King David School.
Even with outreach efforts, enrollment in the AMHSI program is down about 70 percent, said Hirsch.
The UJC plans upcoming missions as scheduled, including the National Yom Ha'Atzmaut Solidarity Mission May 4-11 and the organization's General Assembly meeting in November, said Rosen-krantz.
"We are encouraging travel and will continue to do so, as we always have," he said.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix also plans to continue to publicize missions and encourage travel to Israel, said Loeb.
Contact the writer at jessica_barber@jewishaz.com.
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