Hope on display during interfaith trip to Israel

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This article was published 08/07/2024 (811 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For Lisa Lewis, going to Israel in May to show solidarity and do volunteer work “was the right thing to do.”

Lewis, a Winnipegger who is a member of the Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation in northwest Ontario, had been going to rallies in support of Israel when she learned about the interfaith trip sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, Bridges for Peace and the Jewish National Fund of Canada.

While there, Lewis witnessed “the heartbreak and resolve” of Israelis, including those who escaped the massacre at the Nova Music Festival site and at Kibbutz Be’eri, where former Winnipegger Vivian Silver was killed.

“‘We will dance again,’ they told us,” Lewis said. “‘As a community, as a country.’ That’s the message I got.”

Lewis also appreciated hearing diverse perspectives on the war. “People all agreed that the hostages must come home, but there were different views on how to end the war,” she said, adding “that’s the nice thing about Israel, people can have different opinions.”

One thing she constantly heard was “messages from Israelis expressing their deep appreciation for our being there,” she said.

Although there was an overall feeling of sadness in the country, Lewis came away “with hope, a deeper understanding of what it means to be Israeli, and that Israel is not going anywhere.”

Lewis was one of 21 Christians, Jews and Indigenous people from Winnipeg who went on the Hineni, or “Here,” solidarity trip, which visited Israel for eight days in May.

While there, participants visited with families of the hostages, picked and packed vegetables for an Israeli non-profit that serves people in need, did gardening at a school, planted trees and hosted a BBQ for Israeli soldiers.

Stephen and Denise Cornish of Niverville also made the trip. Denise said the voyage was a way to show her support for Israel and acknowledge her belief that “Israel and the Jewish people are in God’s plan for the whole world.”

It was also a way for the couple, who are part of Maranatha Church, a non-denominational congregation in that southern Manitoba community, to push back against those who have “turned against Israel” after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

“Something in my heart started breaking over that,” she said.

For Stephen, it was also a chance to work alongside Jewish friends and experience a “spiritual connection to the land.”

A visit to the western wall on Sabbath, where they saw soldiers and others singing and dancing “in praise to God” brought him to tears, he said, adding “Israelis are fighting an existential battle for their nation.”

Abby Flackman, youth and overseas engagement co-ordinator for the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, helped organize the trip. She said conversation with Israelis was a highlight.

“Everyone says they are fine, but scratch below the surface there is so much pain … they want the war to end,” said Flackman.

Another highlight was talking to soldiers who had “put their lives, their work, their studies on hold, leaving their families behind to serve,” she said. Like others in that country, “they want the war to end so they can get back to their regular lives.”

The interactions between Christians, Jews and Indigenous people on the trip was “amazing,” she noted, adding that as a Jew she appreciated hearing non-Jews express “their strong support for Israel.”

Rabbi Yosef Benarroch of Winnipeg’s Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Modern Orthodox synagogue provided spiritual guidance for the trip. He called the interfaith nature of the experience “very uplifting.”

In addition to explaining Jewish beliefs and rituals during the visit to the music festival site, Benarroch led prayers while a Christian member of the group read a psalm. “It was powerful, but not an easy place to be,” he said.

“It’s important to know (Jews) have friends, and that we can work together,” Benarroch said. “We rolled up our sleeves and got involved in helping the people of Israel.”

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