By Matthew Manes  

In February, in a demonstration of solidarity, I joined the YISE Shomrai Mission Trip to Israel with over 20 other Silver Springers. Before embarking on the journey, I wasn’t sure what to expect, what we would accomplish, nor what the take-aways would be. Nonetheless, after 24 hours I quickly realized that this was a unique opportunity to experience the eternality of the Jewish people. 

We volunteered on many different fronts. We packed and moved boxes at a second-hand thrift store that provides clothes and goods to displaced families. We sponsored and volunteered at a carnival for children who experienced the horrors of October 7th. We sorted frozen vegetables at a food bank that serves thousands of Israelis weekly. We sponsored a BBQ and served food to chayalim who were returning from combat in Gaza. And we visited and delivered gifts to injured soldiers in the hospital. 

We mourned collectively with Israelis. We visited the sites of the atrocities that occurred on October 7th and gained first-hand accounts from family members, residents, and organizational representatives from Hatzala and Zaka. We spoke with members of the kibbutizim who wonder if they will ever feel safe to return to their homes. We paid a shiva call to a Silver Spring native that lost her son in battle in Gaza. And we met with the families of hostages.  

It was an emotional roller coaster. At one moment, we were empathizing with distressed individuals, and later that evening, we were serving waffles on a stick and making the children of Be’eri laugh. We internalized the loss of friends and families at the Nova music festival and then found ourselves serving food to soldiers and dancing with them in song. We consoled a mourning family only to find ourselves uplifted by their words of Torah and the father expressing his outlook on the mission of the Jewish people.  

At the end of our intense 3-day itinerary, the realization came to the fore. Although we shed tears and sorrow together, the defining sentiment was resiliency. There was a constant cycle of giving and receiving of chizuk and encouragement. I witnessed and contributed to the defining trait that enables us to be an eternal nation. Achdus. Unity. When we support each other individually, we rise as a nation.  

Plastered on signs and billboards throughout the cities and streets were the words, “יחד ננצח” - “Together, we will win.” During this trip, we lived the undeniable resiliency of our eternal nation. In the face of adversity, it was palpable that, together as a nation, we can truly accomplish our destiny of serving Hashem.