Learning, Leading, and Listening: A JCC Leader's Journey Through Israel
This week marks the second and final week of Reva Fox’s journey through Israel as part of the Martin Pear Israel Fellowship – a transformative 18-month experience for rising JCC leaders across North America. Reva, our JCC Arts & Culture Director, has spent the past two weeks exploring, learning, and connecting deeply with people and place. As her time in Israel comes to a close, she continues to share her reflections, photos, and powerful moments of meaning with our Milwaukee community.
Day 8: Memory, mourning, and meaning through art
Our eighth day in Israel was a journey of emotional highs and lows – one of the most powerful days of the trip.
We began at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial and museum. The name means “a memorial of names,” and the building itself tells a story – from its piercing architecture to the artifacts and testimonies within. The most haunting part may have been the books – rows and rows filled with the names of those who passed. Over 5 million names have been recorded. Around 1 million will remain unknown. It is a sobering reminder that memory is not abstract – it is personal.
Outside the museum, the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations honors those who have risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. I took a moment by Oskar Schindler’s tree, one among many.
As we stepped out of the shadows of the museum, we were greeted by the glorious view of Jerusalem’s hills – light after darkness, beauty after mourning.
From there, we visited Mount Herzl Cemetery, the final resting place of many of Israel’s most significant leaders and heroes. We stood at the grave of Theodor Herzl, walked past the section for prime ministers and presidents, and I placed a stone on the grave of Golda Meir, a figure near and dear to the heart of Milwaukee.
Another powerful moment came when we honored Hannah Senesh, the poet, paratrooper, and resistance fighter we featured at our Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration.
Perhaps the most difficult of all was visiting the new section of military graces of young soldiers, many fallen since October 7, 2023. Their graves were covered in heartfelt tributes including notes, flowers, photos, and balloons. I didn’t take photos out of respect, but the memory is etched in my heart.
That afternoon, we had time to reflect and process through a powerful creative workshop at Kol HaOt, an art gallery co-founded by David Moss, Elyssa Moss-Rabinowitz, and Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz. We used shape and color to express our feelings, turning emotion into visual storytelling.
We ended the evening with a joyful reunion – dinner with Dana Margolis, formerly of Women’s Philanthropy in Milwaukee, who made Aliyah and welcomed us with warmth and good food. A perfect end to a heavy, unforgettable day.
DAY 9: Shared Society and Social Responsibility
Our ninth day was about complexity – the challenges and hope of Israeli society today.
We spent the day exploring shared society, beginning in Lod, a city where Jews and Arabs live side-by-side. In one area known as the “Triangle of Religions,” a mosque, a church, and a synagogue sit next to each other, serving as a living symbol of coexistence, tension, and possibility. The synagogue, we learned, serves an Indian Jewish community.
Next, we traveled to Beit Shemesh to visit a matnas, or community center. The neighborhood is underserved and economically struggling, but it is also has one of the highest birthrates in Israel, with 30 births per day. The community is growing rapidly, and resources are struggling to keep up.
We were also invited into a remarkable space: the only Haredi art gallery in the world – housed in a bomb shelter. There, we met two Haredi women whose courage and creativity inspired us deeply. One runs the gallery itself. The other is an activist advocating for victims of sexual abuse within the ultra-Orthodox community. There were some of the most eye-opening and honest conversations of our trip.
Later that evening, we returned to Jerusalem for dinner – but the evening took a dramatic turn when air raid sirens sounded again. We crossed the street to shelter and waited while an incoming missile was intercepted nearby. Once cleared, we returned to our meal, where a familiar face awaited – Uria, our former Milwaukee shaliach, who now works with the JCCA Israel Office. Seeing him brought joy and connection in a moment that had felt chaotic and tense.
DAY 10: Culture, Storytelling, and a Bittersweet Farewell
Our final day in Israel began with something that had, sadly, become familiar – another rocket siren. We took shelter again, this time in the stairwell of our hotel. With resilience and routine, we emerged ready to make the most of our last day.
We started at Ma’aleh School of Film and Television, one of Israel’s most unique institutions. Ma’aleh welcomes Orthodox, religious, and secular students to create film that reflects the depth of Israeli life. We watched two incredible student films and engaged in a discussion with one of Israel’s leading film location scouts.
Afterward, we strolled through the colorful chaos of the Machane Yehuda Shuk, filled with sounds, spices, sweets, and souvenirs. A truly sensory sendoff!
Next, we toured the newly opened National Library of Israel – a stunning architectural achievement blending old and new. We saw a handwritten text by Maimonides (Rambam) and a Machzor filled with notes from ancient Jewish communities. The library uses robotics to preserve and deliver fragile texts – only in Israel could ancient wisdom and high-tech meet so beautifully.
One of the most powerful displays honored the hostages still held in Gaza – yet another reminder of the urgency of our support and solidarity.
As the sun began to set, we gathered in the peaceful Jerusalem Botanical Gardens for our final reflection and farewell dinner. Together with this extraordinary group of JCC professionals, we laughed, cried, and processed all we had seen and felt. Then it was off to the airport to say our goodbyes, board our flights, and head home.
One Last Thing: Let’s talk food
I would be remiss if I didn’t take a brief detour to talk about something undeniably unforgettable: the food in Israel. Whether it’s grabbing a falafel or sabich sandwich on the go, wandering the vibrant stalls of the Shuk, or sitting down to a beautiful meat or dairy meal, every bite in Israel feels like a celebration of flavor, history, and community.
Hotel breakfasts are worth the flight alone – imagine starting your day with plates of local cheeses, fresh salads, smoked fish, flaky pastries, and of course, coffee strong enough to wake your soul. Did you know cherry tomatoes were invented in Israel? They’re just one tiny part of the fresh, colorful mosaic that defines the Israeli table.
The Shuk in Jerusalem was a feast for all senses. Rows of dried fruit, nuts, candy, breads, spices, olives, produce, and sizzling street food created an atmosphere bursting with energy and life. I couldn’t stop taking photos!
And then there’s home cooking. We had the chance to try our hand at preparing Israeli dishes with fresh, local ingredients and simple, vibrant recipes – food made with love, and it showed.
Whether you’re a foodie or just a hungry traveler, trust me: you can’t go wrong with Israeli cuisine.
Though the trip has ended, the fellowship continues. Over the coming months, we’ll continue to dive deeper into the learning, reflect on our growth, and create programs that bring this experience home to our community.
I can’t wait to share more with all of you, and I hope you’ll join me this summer for some exciting ways to continue the conversation. Stay tuned!
