In October 2013 I participated on the Tiferet Mission to Poland and Israel, my first experience on a JUF Women’s Mission. I didn’t know any of the participants before the trip, and I was fortunate to return with seven close friends, including Kim Shwachman, a dedicated and enthusiastic mission participant (and chair of the Missions Committee.)

Six months after Tiferet I, Kim presented me with the opportunity to co-lead JUF’s Tiferet II Mission to Israel alongside her. Due to the events in Israel this past summer, the group decided to accelerate the trip from its originally scheduled spring 2015 date, to send a strong message of support to Israel. Within three months, 15 women were ready to embark on this journey. I knew this experience would be unlike any of my other visits to Israel.

Kim and I worked closely with the JUF Missions Department to create an itinerary that would present a broad perspective on life in Israel from the vantage point of many different groups. Our visit began with a meeting with three heroic women, proudly married to soldiers who fought on the front lines during Operation Protective Edge. They spoke of the challenges of caring for their children alone and maintaining a normal household during the war, not knowing where their husbands were stationed and whether or not they were safe, unharmed or even alive. Their emotional stories were difficult for us to hear as they were for the women to share. When we asked how we could support them, their response was that coming to Israel, listening to their story, and sharing in their experience was more than they could have asked for.

We heard from another hero, Micha Feldmann, Chief Architect of Operation Solomon. We cooked a traditional Ethiopian lunch with members of the Ethiopian community, as they told us their own personal stories of rescue and aliyah (immigration to Israel). One of the men told of the many brothers and sisters he lost during his journey, and expressed that he wouldn’t be here and alive today if it wasn’t for our community’s support and solidarity.

We traveled to Mitzpe Ramon and marveled at the beauty of the Ramon Crater, a stunning place with breathtaking views. We met with Michal Barkai who founded the “Alma Derech Eretz Mechina,” a program to prepare disadvantaged and disenfranchised girls for military service. The program teaches them skills and self-esteem, maximizing their potential to serve in meaningful positions in the army, and to grow into productive and successful members of Israeli society. Against all odds, Michal is has built up this program and is slowly but surely saving young women’s lives and in the process, strengthening the army. It was clear that Michal was a true hero to the girls in her program. They finally had someone that believed in them when no one else did.

I could share many more stories about our encounters with Israeli heroes, and programs with impressive speakers, all of whom we were honored to be with in Israel. Everyone we met welcomed us warmly and expressed great appreciation for our presence and support. We all felt as if we were truly at home.

We are so fortunate to have access to the JUF Missions Department, with the experience and creativity to create trips like this that are meaningful, fun, unique and form everlasting friendships and memories.

Barbie Taylor, of Northbrook, co-chaired the Tiferet II mission, along withKim Shwachman. Taylor chairs the JUF King David Society with her husband, Bruce.

For more information on the JUF Missions Department, call (312) 357-4885.