A personal reflection by Hayley Grossman

When my dear friend, Joh, told me about the trip of a lifetime - an LGBTQ+ trip to Israel - I knew I had to register. 

I was positive that among this group, I could feel secure in both of my identities as a lesbian and a Jew. I had been being pushed out by the queer community for being a staunch Zionist. Ever since, I had longed for a deeper sense of belonging, though I had been welcomed with open arms by my Jewish Community Federation of Richmond.

 Our trip began on June 8, when I joined approximately 100 queer Jews for the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) mission trip to Israel. 

Over five days, Jewish leaders embarked on a trip set out to establish community, engage with queer leaders in Israel, and observe the impact of October 7. 

After a night of introductions and a dinner to launch the mission, we set off to learn about how October 7 has grossly affected Israel. During this heavy first day, we visited Kibbutz Nir Oz, where 25% of its residents were abducted or murdered. Underneath rubble and ash, the Bibas home was exactly how they left it; the Lifschitz garden still thriving. We also visited the Nova Festival site, with placards of innocent civilians killed in the terror attacks among poppies and stones. 

In the following days, our group experienced a whirlwind of emotions. We closed the mission with a farewell party accompanied by several of our guest speakers and new friends. 

During the mission, we became a family. We were able to be our true selves and to come out of the closet in so many ways: as Jews, as Zionists, as queers, as appreciated and respected individuals regardless of identity. We were renewed. 

Following the closing party, many of us took to the party scene. We danced and celebrated at gay bars, raves, and drag shows, among people just like us. The tone for the Pride march in Tel Aviv was set. Friday, June 13, would be the Pride parade. 

But at 3 a.m. Friday, our lives changed forever. 

Some of us were sleeping, some still out and about, some making our way back to the hotel. Sirens blared through the city, warning us to take shelter, and we found ourselves in the safe rooms on our floors. For about three days, we went in and out of the bomb shelter, experiencing history as Iran launched missiles at Israel. Yet we persevered. We celebrated Shabbat and Havdalah and enjoyed our time while we could at the beach and the hotel pool. 

Behind the scenes, the JFNA was working tirelessly to secure a safe passage out of Israel even after flights had been canceled and the airports closed. On June 15, my 29th birthday, those of us who opted to leave arrived at the Jordan border crossing. We then flew out of Jordan to Egypt, then to New York. We were home.     

Morgie, our bus tour guide, taught us a word that would come to exemplify our strength during the trip: Resilience. 

We thought we were resilient during our scheduled time of the trip. But what unfolded in the following hours showcased our true fortitude. Without the help of the JFNA, many of us would likely still be in Israel. Their swift rescue saved our lives. We left our hearts in Israel, but I believe all of us would do it all over again. Special thanks to Nate Looney, our trip leader, and Russel Lord, our tour lead, who helped make this trip special and safe from start to unexpected finish.

Thank you to the officials at the Richmond Federation for repeatedly checking in on me. Finally, thank you to the JFNA not only for the opportunity to participate in this mission, but also for our safe Exodus out of Israel. 

Am Israel Chai.