A new program created by World Mizrachi is aiming to help outsiders better understand the complex challenges faced by the residents of northern Israel.
The organization previously brought thousands of visitors following the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas to the affected southern region in an effort dubbed ‘community educational tourism’.
Hundreds of individual groups were organized and came to Israel to obtain a first-hand understanding of the breadth of the tragedy, the bravery and heroism of Israel’s soldiers and civilians, and the need for rebuilding.
Now, as Israel’s northern border region works to rejuvenate and return its residents to their homes, the organization is offering a series of new tracks to communities and villages that were ravaged by months of incessant rocket fire and attacks.
Launching this month, the program will help enable groups to intimately understand the experiences of residents in northern Israel as well as their goals for healing and rebuilding, which are already underway.
Specially designed as two-day tours, groups will visit homes and facilities that suffered direct Hezbollah rocket strikes, receive briefings from high-level security and political officials, meet with evacuees, and more.
Rabbi Dr. Shimon Rapport, Director of the Educational Tourism Department at World Mizrachi, explained that his team has put together original itineraries designed to emphasize positive messages, meeting inspirational speakers and key people who are focused on the rejuvenation of the Jewish people.
“Mizrachi’s solidarity missions are intended as both educational and inspirational experiences, by directly introducing our participants to the people who demonstrate in the most powerful of ways the uniquely Jewish spirit to bounce back from tragedy and terror,” he said.
World Mizrachi CEO Rabbi Danny Mirvis noted that at this point in Jewish history, “we need to embrace and support the communities of the north, and we invite all those who have already been on missions or have not yet visited Israel during the war to come and do so.”
The organization is also expanding their offerings to include programs for high schools.
