An Israel Mission Like No Other

Over Winter Break, I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer in Israel as part of a join Onward Hillel cohort. For two weeks, our group, consisting of seventeen college students from across North America and six staff, rose early to volunteer. Our primary placement was with Yad Sarah, a remarkable non-profit organization primarily known for lending medical equipment to anyone in Israel who needs it, regardless of socioeconomic status, political views, religious beliefs or practices. Yad Sarah also provides numerous other services and programs, such as transportation for people with physical disabilities, and even a hotel for loved ones to visit Sha’arei Tzedek Hospital. With the war, there is an increased demand for medical equipment and supplies, and Yad Sarah is one of the leading suppliers. I spent seven hours a day with other volunteers, cleaning, repairing, and testing mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and walkers. I enjoyed every hour I spent in the workroom. I was the floor’s DJ and I loved discussing similar music tastes among the American and Israeli volunteers. I also cherished hearing from Israeli volunteers about their experiences, including how the war has impacted each of them personally.

When our program visited Har Hertzl, I was able to visit the grave of my former teacher, Yossi Hershkovitz, z”l, who was killed in Gaza, as well as the father of one of my new volunteer friends who was also killed in battle. I take their stories back with me as I return to campus.

On our first Saturday night together, our cohort attended the Bring Them Home Now rally in Tel Aviv. I’ve seen videos of similar rallies on social media, but nothing compares to being there in person. If you look down, everyone’s wrist is adorned with a yellow bracelet; if you look up, everyone’s neck is adorned with Bring Them Home Now dog tag necklaces. It felt surreal when Israelis saw us walking on the street, stopped us, and thanked us for coming to help. They would even wish us safety back on our college campuses.

It was a tremendous honor to hear from a soldier who was wounded in Gaza and from a survivor of the Nova Music Festival massacre. Hearing from them in Israel where everyone was supportive and united made the experience even more powerful.

In addition to my Onward experience, I had the privilege of participating in the Orthodox Union-Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus (OU-JLIC) solidarity mission while in Israel. After I completed my day of volunteering at Yad Sarah, I would learn with Rabbi Yedidya Naveh, my rabbi from my gap year program, Hevruta. It was fantastic to go back to my gap year routine and further my Jewish learning. Moreover, my additional day of chesed with JLIC was exceptional. I met even more religious students from across the United States, volunteered with them to make tzitzit for Israeli soldiers and package meals for families affected by food insecurity, and heard from a panel of Israelis who shared their perspectives on how the war has changed their lives. On our free Shabbat, I was ecstatic to see some of my friends on their weekend off from the army. I can only try to describe our feelings as we contemplated the differences in our parallel lives; my friends are stationed all over Israel, some for months at a time, fighting for our country, while I’m in St. Louis trying to pick a major.

I believe that it is always important to give back to Israel, and now more than ever I want to send a signal to Israelis that Jews in the diaspora support our homeland at this frightening, delicate time. It is critical that we advocate for Israel in the United States— rallying and contacting lawmakers and school administrators on her behalf, and that we come to Israel to volunteer when our brothers and sisters need us. This trip was very impactful, and I am excited to help facilitate another similar volunteer experience through WashU Hillel over Spring Break.

I am grateful to WashU Hillel’s Louise & Sam I. Golman Leadership Investment Fund and the Lurie Fund for subsidizing my Onward volunteer experience in Israel. I’m also thankful to Michael Staenberg for supporting my participation in the OU-JLIC solidarity mission. A special thank you to Rina Gersten, WashU Hillel’s IACT Coordinator for Israel Engagement, for staffing our cohort and accompanying me on the trip.

Amalia Stulbach
WashU LA ‘26
WashU Hillel Student Advisory Board Member