Women’s Division 2008/09

By Celia Norian  

Women's Division - President

My most recent trip to Israel was also the most unique. It was not a mission composed of a group of people with a common bond. As I wrote in my June article, I went with my cousin Jane and some friends, all of whom had not been to Israel before. We were 34 people from all over the world who had booked the same tour, under different titles, with our own travel agents. We came from Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Surinam, Great Britain, St. Croix, South Africa and the USA. We met each other on the bus in Tel Aviv. Most of the people were Christians, many carrying their Bibles, most in Israel for the first time. I was one of 6 Jews, and the one with the most involvement in organizations and temple. It was my eighth trip.

I chuckled to myself as I heard some of the first-timers comment and ask questions about the landscape, the people and the food. They marveled at the lavish Israeli breakfast buffet. I had to remember that I had been a “first timer” once, too. It brought me good feelings that I had become so familiar and comfortable with this country.

As we traveled around the country, I looked at the country side with a pride that I had not felt before. THIS is a country that I work for. THIS is a country that has buildings and projects that are provided for by dollars from the Coachella Valley. I proudly shared that information with my fellow travelers.

We toured many of the places associated with Jesus – Bethlehem, Nazareth, the sites on the Mt. of Olives, the Via Dolorosa and the Sea of Galilee. There were hundreds of other Christian tourists at these sights and many of them were praying for Israel. I was fascinated at the numbers. They were not fearful of coming to Israel. Many people that I know were concerned for my safety in going to Israel.

When we rode to the top of Masada, visited Beit She’an and Akko, and visited the old synagogues of Safed, everyone was interested to learn the history of the land and its people. Yad Vashem gave the group an overview of the Holocaust that many had not been aware of previously.

Our guide pointed out the border with Jordan and took us to Israel’s borders with Syria and Lebanon. The close proximity of these countries and the history of the wars made an impact on us as to the importance keeping these borders secure.

As I heard the stories and the history and saw the sights, much of it was familiar to me. I had either been there on a previous trip, or I was aware of the history. I came to realize that my involvement with Federation and Hadassah has had a HUGE impact on my life. I am not Jewish in a vacuum. I am connected to people half a world away. I am as aware of what goes on there as here. I felt “at home” in the land. Friends I have made there came to see us. It was a good feeling to have “family” in Israel.

Since I’ve been home, I’ve been busy with plans for the coming year of Women’s Division activities. I’ve been “renewed” in my energy. Mary Levine, the Director of Women’s Division, has been busy working with the event chairs and checking for speakers for our luncheons. Plans are being made for Education Day in January. We will look to expand our volunteer programs with the Jewish Community Day School and Jewish Family Service. We have more ideas for new programs for the community that hopefully will also come to fruition.

Being a part of this community is a good thing. Come join us. Become a supporter of the work we do.