From Israel to Northbrook

When Debbie Schwartz was first asked to join Momentum’s Unity Mission to Israel in 2024, she immediately came up with several reasons why she couldn’t go. However, the Lakeview mom of three soon changed her mind.

“I thought about it over Shabbat and by the end of Shabbat, I decided I needed to go,” Schwartz said. “It was a chance to see Israel in a way that I never saw it before. It wasn’t just sightseeing. It was an experience with a bunch of Jewish women and a chance to see Israel post-October 7.”

She traveled with Momentum last July as part of the organization’s Unity Mission, a seven-day immersive trip to Israel. Momentum seeks to inspire women to transform themselves, transform their families, their communities, and the world, and to empower women to connect with Jewish values, engage with Israel, take action, and foster unity.

Schwartz describes the experience as a “deeply meaningful experience for me in ways that I’m still processing.” “The hostages’ faces were everywhere,” she reflected. “Through everyone’s stories, we realized how connected everybody within Israel was to one another.”

Another important aspect of Momentum’s programming includes in-person fellowships around the world, including Israel, South Florida, Philadelphia, and Panama. Fellowships aim to build and support strong, engaged Jewish communities. In September, Momentum will hold its first Chicago-area fellowship at Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook where attendees will participate in the organization’s three-day transformative leadership and networking program.

“Fellowships bring together everyone from Jewish educators to leaders within the community,” said Gila Madjar, Partnership Relationship Manager at Momentum. “It’s all about unity without uniformity.”

The Momentum Fellowship will be held at Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook from Sept. 7-9. To learn more or to apply, visit: momentumunlimited.org/momentumfellowship .