How has the current situation impacted the people of Israel?
NS: In May, I took a UJC Young Leadership mission from our Bergen County community to Israel. We visited places like Gilo, so I was quite aware of the situation and the vulnerability. But there was no question in my mind that our presence in the country was an important aspect of what we, as Jews in the States, should be doing. I was pleased to return with family and friends the following month for the dedication. On these recent trips, wherever we went, we were thanked for being there. It’s as if the country is in mourning and appreciates having family around them. It’s a different kind of a life now. It’s really sad to see, and yet life goes on. If you look at it from the outside, it looks pretty normal. But when you talk to people on the inside, there is a lot of pain. Clearly, our support has never been more important. To learn more about Norm Seiden, download FOCUS 5: Israel Education Fund.
