ALLISON JACOBS

continued from page 14

16 | DECEMBER 26 • 2019 

JDC’
s “Friends for Healthy 
Living” program geared 
toward people with disabil-
ities. It felt great to break a 
sweat as we learned how to 
play Goalball, a game for 
those with visual impair-
ments (and yes, we were 
blindfolded)!
We then ended the day 
with a fun competition 
with the Hapoel Be’
er Sheva 
Unified Soccer Team. The 
team is all-inclusive, allow-
ing men with all abilities to 
participate. 
As we high-fived one 
another after our tied 
game, a player approached 
me, gesturing to the soccer 
field and said, “This is the 
real Israel.
” He emphasized 
there is more to Israel 
than what you hear about 
through news outlets. 
That statement stuck with 
me for the remainder of 
the trip, allowing me to 
fully see Israel through an 
expanded lens.

THURSDAY, NOV. 28
We headed to the local 
courthouse to learn about 
JDC’
s Community Courts 
Program.
The goal is to reduce the 
“revolving door” pattern 
of returning offenders 
by engaging them in an 
18-month rehabilitation 
program. I was impressed 
with its 65 percent success 
rate and that despite it 
being a challenging com-
mitment, many people sit 
on a waitlist until they can 
get accepted.
We ended the day with a 
vibrant Thanksgiving meal 
with Detroit Federation 
affiliates including Yoav 
Raban and Detroit expats 
Eden Adler, who works in 

Israel’
s tech industry, and 
Avi Mendelson, a JDC 
Entwine Jewish Service 
Corps Fellow in Israel. It 
was interesting to hear how 
former Detroiters have 
adapted to Israeli life.

FRIDAY, NOV. 29
On Friday morning, 
we departed for Neveh 
Hadassah Youth Village. 
There are 45 youth villages 
throughout Israel, often 
housing young people 
experiencing challenging 
family circumstances. 
At Neveh Hadassah, we 
met with young people 
engaged in their agricul-
tural program. They learn 
how to harvest produce 
they sell to high-tech sec-
tor businesses in Tel Aviv. 
I enjoyed hearing from 
residents Uri and Mark, 
who were vocal about their 
engagement with the gar-
dening program, as well 
as their passions for video 
games and music. What 
was most striking was their 
level of resilience after 
facing hardships at such a 
young age.
That evening, we expe-
rienced a music-filled 
Shabbat service and attend-
ed Shabbat dinners with 
JDC-affiliated hosts. 
My host, Avi Mendelson, 
invited friends from Israel, 
Detroit, London and New 
York. Despite just meeting 
them, I felt connected as 
we talked about everything 
from experiences in the 
IDF to life goals and aspi-
rations.

SATURDAY, NOV. 30
By day seven, I was feeling 
a mess of emotions. There 
were so many aspects of 
the trip still circling my 
mind.

Our final day included a 
vibrant dinner and ended 
with assiyah, where we 
shared the meaningful 
aspects of the trip and dis-
cussed how to apply our 
learning within our Detroit 
community and globally.
I shared how I valued 
gaining more understand-
ing of the inner workings 
of Israeli life, for Israelis 
and Palestinians of all ages 
and religious affiliations. 
Again, I realize “it’
s com-
plicated,
” but I now come 
away with more insight 
regarding social and politi-
cal complexities. 
During this trip, I also 
developed a stronger con-
nection with Judaism and 
Israel as a whole.
My final takeaway is that 
engaging in tikkun olam
doesn’
t end after this trip 
— there is still more work 
to be done. And, thanks to 
Rabbi Dan and The Well, 
we look forward to meeting 
over the next 12 months to 
find ways to channel our 
learning toward helping 
fellow Jewish people. 

Jews in the D

“As we saw the many areas 
the JDC was involved in, 
I realized my family was 
directly impacted by the 
JDC in assisting them with 
their immigration from the 
former Soviet Union to the 
United States. This personal 
connection is one I was not 
expecting. I was very moved 
to see all the programs the 
JDC has established to help 
both Jews and non-Jews alike. 
I look forward to sharing my 
passion for this organization 
through Shabbat dinners, 
fundraisers and local volunteer 
opportunities (with ties to 
Israel).”

— SEMONNA MATZ, BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Detroiters and Israelis 
gather together for an 
unforgettable Thanksgiving 
dinner in Tel Aviv. 

Visit jdcentwine.org for more information

