Hear from Betania Acre, a non-Jewish student and Cameron Fields, a Jewish student, and on what the experience meant to them. 

Betania Acre 

As a devout Christian, the significance of Israel as the land of G-d’s chosen people and the home of Jesus resonates deeply with me. In addition to my religious beliefs, I hold personal ties to Israel because of my name, Betania (Bethany in English), which was the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus loved deeply.  

In May, I was blessed with the opportunity to visit Israel. Although I had some hesitations about participating in the trip due to the current state of Israel and Gaza, I considered the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity that had been granted to me. 

From the EL AL plane ride, where I befriended an Israeli on his way home to his family, to the elder ladies who sat with me while I read in a coffee shop during a lunch break, I felt welcomed by Israel. With each passing stranger, the historical buildings, and the ambiance surrounding Israel, I developed an immense appreciation and love for the country. 

As an aspiring physician, I was greatly moved by the visit to Barzilai Medical Center (in Ashkelon). Hearing directly from the president about how the hospital managed the mass casualty incident on October 7th inspired me to pursue my goal of volunteering in medical settings similar to Barzilai Medical Center, serving both friends and foes alike as prescribed by the Hippocratic Oath. 

We gained many insights into the various communities of Israel, each of which added to my knowledge and perception of the country. I was very impressed by Israel’s resilience and its ability to remember past events while continuing to move forward. 

The most valuable aspect of the trip was the stories. Hearing firsthand accounts from October 7th survivors, families of hostages, Israeli citizens and soldiers, as well as listening to guest speakers, all contributed to a deeper understanding of the impact of October 7th, the importance of Israel’s existence for Jews and the complex, deep-rooted conflict between Israel and Palestine.  

While I cannot possibly imagine a solution that satisfies both sides, I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to explore empathy and compassion for both Israelis and Palestinians and their unique points of view. I look forward to returning to Israel and hope to contribute something good. 

Cameron Fields 

When I came to tour Hopkins in the summer of 2021, I remember being told about the opportunity to be a Jewish representative on the MTF trip and thinking to myself – this is a trip I want to be part of. Now after having returned from being a member of this trip, I can confidently say that my younger self underestimated just how impactful it would be. 

After this past year, finding people to talk about my love towards Israel and share my memories about the place I am so passionate about was hard to do outside the four walls of Hillel. But spending a week with people from all different backgrounds, faiths and upbringings, and discussing the complexities of the conflict was extremely refreshing. 

I have been lucky to have had the opportunity to travel to Israel many times, but never has my trip itinerary been composed of so many different speakers from such different backgrounds, so many different religious sites and such moving speakers. I found each day when we returned to the hotel my mind was racing, trying to keep up with everything I had learned that day. And each day the group grew closer as we shared and listened to each other’s perspective and takeaways from the day. 

The most meaningful moment of our trip for me was visiting Sderot. Four months prior I stook int he same spot and seeing how much the city changed and came back to life was extremely moving. After hearing from speakers at the site of the police station attack, we went to a small falafel store where we met two soldiers on their lunch break from the army. Having the chance to speak to them and hear their story was something I will never forget. 

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate on this trip. The connections I made with my classmates are ones that I am looking forward to maintaining throughout the year. I feel that I have learned so much walking away from this trip and I will carry my experiences for the rest of my life.