ZOA is So Proud of Our Zionist Employees For Their Recent Extraordinary Trips to Israel

Allison Zur

ZOA Florida Regional Director &

Young Leadership Director

Hamas told everyone in the TLV area there'd be a rocket attack at 8pm. At 8pm, I went to the balcony, waiting to hear the siren. At 8:02, I saw every balcony fill up with people from neighboring buildings. At 8:05, with no planning at all, we all started singing 'Hatikvah.'

Jackie Shafer

Communications Manager

I said on my first trip to Israel, “I love your country.” They replied, “No - it’s your country too! We are family. You are home.” So when I was asked on my recent trip why I decided to come back to Israel after the Hamas massacre, my answer was simple: “When something happens to family, you go home and you help.”

Anna Avivi

Accounting Department

Despite the rebuilding progress, the insects and the lingering smell of rot served as stark reminders of the challenges the community faced. Our primary responsibility became not just about agricultural work but also the act of contributing to the community's recovery.

Jonathan Ginsburg

ZOA Campus Managing Director

I decided to make the trip solo and felt that now more than ever it was important to see family and friends and show my own personal solidarity. I had a chance to catch up with Karen Amouyal (left), my colleague at ZOA Campus who is based in Israel. She shared with me about daily life in Israel over the past three months.

Kobi Erez

ZOA Michigan Regional Director

Sitting on an El Al plane waiting to take off, I realized that, for the first time on my many flights to Israel, I was happy to see not even one empty seat on the plane. Despite the fact that Israel is considered a war zone – in fact, because of it – the Jewish people are more motivated to travel to our beloved land than ever before.