By Lee Kestecher Solomon
Director of Community 
Engagement

I had the privilege of traveling to Israel on June 14 as part of a delegation from the Lehigh Valley through our Partnership2Gether (P2G) program. We spent a meaningful week with our partners in the Yoav Regional Council, strengthening relationships, participating in collaborative meetings, and visiting projects supported by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. The experience was a powerful reminder that P2G is about far more than programs—it is about the people, friendships, and shared commitment that connect our communities.

Our visit began in Yoav, where we reviewed the many initiatives made possible through our partnership, including Shared Journey, Hebrew Together (Ivrit Together), and retreats for Israel Defense Forces reservists. We met with regional council head Nati Lerner and reconnected with photographer Erez Kaganovitz, whose Humans of October 7 exhibit remains on display at the JCC. We also began exploring an exciting new collaboration for the future.

One of the most moving experiences was visiting Kibbutz Revadim and learning about the Ariel Chuka (Home) project, created in memory of Ariel Ohana, who was killed defending Kibbutz Be’eri on October 8. Meeting Ariel’s father and seeing how the project is transforming grief into hope was unforgettable. Supported by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, the initiative includes housing for lone soldiers, a community memorial garden built by volunteers from across Israel, and the Mehubarim (Connected) program, which helps young people from conflict-affected communities build resilience, connection, and belonging.

At Kibbutz Beit Guvrin, we met Maccabit Meyer, the aunt of Gali and Ziv Berman, who shared her family’s emotional journey until they were reunited after more than 700 days in Hamas captivity. Her story reflected both unimaginable pain and extraordinary resilience, reminding us how deeply October 7 continues to affect families and communities across Israel.

We also spent time in Beit Shemesh learning from fellow Partnership2Gether communities and discussing projects for the coming year before visiting the site where an Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential neighborhood and synagogue. 

Standing in a place meant to provide safety and prayer made the tragedy even more difficult to comprehend.

Our final day brought us to the Nova Music Festival memorial and the preserved vehicles from the October 7 attack. Walking the grounds, reading the stories of those who were murdered, and seeing the destruction firsthand left a lasting impression. We then visited Kibbutz Beit Nir, where families displaced from Kibbutz Nir Oz shared their experiences of survival and rebuilding. Thanks in part to support from the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, dozens of families are beginning new lives there, surrounded by a welcoming community.

We returned home carrying both heartbreak and hope. Throughout the week, we witnessed the strength, resilience, and generosity of our Israeli partners, and we left with deeper friendships, renewed purpose, and an even greater appreciation for the partnership that continues to unite our two communities.