Israel travelers want others to follow their footsteps

TEL AVIV - In a meeting with the San Francisco solidarity mission last week, Martin Indyk, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, said the group's visit had made a significant impact.

"Indyk questioned the need for continuing the U.S. State Department warning against travel to Israel," said Rabbi Doug Kahn, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council. "The warning is being reviewed and our visit was helpful in making the case for its review."

State Department warning or not, participants on the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation mission last week believed they had done good by coming at a time when the hotels were mostly empty.

Rabbi Stacy Friedman of Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael said that when people at home began telling her she was brave for venturing to one of the world's hotspots, she began to worry.

"I don't feel that we're brave," she told others during one of the share-your-thoughts-during-the-drive moments on the bus. "There's so much fear at home, but our love for Israel supercedes that fear."

As a leader in Hillel, Paul Cohen of Mill Valley said he was glad to have the opportunity to visit, before he participates in discussions about whether to bring Birthright Israel groups.

"I feel more strongly that we should bring kids here," he said. "Not only because the tourism is needed, but because students could gain an even more vital experience being here now, and meeting Israelis dealing with this."

Sam Salkin, the new chief executive officer of the JCF, said he was moved by how many times the group had been thanked for coming.

"Israelis have expressed deep appreciation to the San Francisco community for sending the largest solidarity mission since the beginning of the unrest," he said. "If others in the community who were not able to join this mission could have been here to feel that appreciation, they would have felt very humble and proud."

David Meir-Levi of Palo Alto had harsh words for his fellow American Jews. "This mission shows how scandalously shameful the conduct of American Jewry has been toward Israel for not coming."

Lisa Cohen of Menlo Park said simply, "Right now, Jews need to be here. They shouldn't be canceling plans to send their children. Mishpoche [family] needs mishpoche even in times of crisis."

Julie Brandt of San Francisco took a different approach, saying Jews should not come for the usual reasons, but because they could bring something crucial that was so desperately lacking in Israeli society right now.

"A large part of the hope I feel now is coming from diaspora Jews," she said. "It's coming from us." Saying that it was time for her 30-something generation "to step up to the plate," she emphasized that the relationship between Israel and American Jews was "at a critical juncture and the hope that we bring is crucial."