After launching our Hasbara Delegation in Jerusalem, our students traveled south for what has unfortunately become a staple stop for our students since October 7th. They visited the Gaza border, Kibbutz Be’eri, the Nova Festival Site and Sderot–the sites that saw the most horrific scenes on that awful day. They stood where terrorists crossed on October 7. They heard from survivors, they listened to soldiers, and they saw the devastation firsthand.
At the Tkuma Car Graveyard, they walked past charred vehicles—silent memorials to those ambushed and murdered along Route 232.
The pain of October 7 is still raw. These communities are still mourning. Visiting these sites isn’t easy—but it’s essential. Bearing witness is now a core part of our leadership training.
Our Fellows are not just learning history. They’re forming an unshakable bond with the people of Israel. And they’re preparing to return to campus as strong, confident voices for truth. Bearing witness to the October 7 sites is an essential part of Jewish leadership today, and our student leaders need to see it and communicate to their peers that they were there.
It was not an easy day, but it will empower us to return to campuses as strong, proud, eloquent advocates and leaders.
