Every day, if we are lucky to have access to healthy food, we nourish our bodies. Last week, I nourished my soul. For just over a week, we hosted a delegation of leaders from our sister community of Sha’ar HaNegev as part of our “Gesher,” or Bridge program. Gesher connects Jewish agency leaders in Sha’ar HaNegev with executives from Jewish agencies here in San Diego.
When the program began five years ago, the idea was to identify programs we could work on together to strengthen the relationship between our communities. Over time, it has evolved into something much deeper: a powerful connection rooted in mutual responsibility, mutual respect, and friendships that will last a lifetime.
In September, we brought a group to Sha’ar HaNegev for a deep dive into their work and all they are doing to restore trust, strengthen resilience and rebuild community.
Last week, our Israeli counterparts visited here to understand what it means to be Jewish in America today, and how Jewish organizations are working to ensure that we are safe and that Jewish life thrives in San Diego.
During both visits, we had to squeeze in time to connect with the many close friends we have all made along the way.
To learn more about the visit and hear directly from members of the delegation, read our recent blog post.
The topic of Israel is highly fraught these days. People’s feelings about Israel and the war are complicated, to say the least; and that is true both outside and inside the Jewish community. Showing support for the people of Israel and even simply acknowledging Israel’s right to exist can be stressful, even dangerous in some situations.
While our friends were here, that stress receded into the background. It was intense and emotional, but it was a relief to engage with Israel through real, brilliant, loving, complex, and caring Israelis who have come to feel like family. People who want nothing more than peace. Practical, pragmatic people whose lives have been upended and who, since the return of the hostages, are finally beginning to look toward the future. The trauma of these past few years, however, will remain for a generation.
We had hard conversations about rebuilding the trust that has been lost in the Otef, the envelope near the Gaza border, and about the security threats and antisemitism we face here in the U.S.
We thought deeply about how to both broaden and deepen the relationship between our communities. We worked hard, from early in the morning until late in the evening.
And we had fun. We relaxed in each other’s company, shared meals and bottles of wine, celebrated Shabbat, and danced together. We talked often about the importance of Jewish joy and intentionally created moments that brought that joy to life.
Before the delegation left, we spent time planning how to connect more San Diegans to Sha’ar HaNegev residents and make those connections more meaningful, layered and substantive.
When they left, there were tears on both sides. To be so engaged with Israelis doing such critical work to build resilience, not in the abstract or over WhatsApp but face to face, and to learn from one another replenished and strengthened us for all we face in our day-to-day lives.
As we closed out the visit, we were asked what we felt. The answers were simple and moving:
“Broken and hopeful.”
“Pain, hope and strength.”
“The amount of love.”
“The warmth of true peoplehood.”
And over and over again, “Home.”
Nourishment for the soul.
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Heidi Gantwerk is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego.