JNF Australia Educators Tour 2025/2026
Day 7 – 5 January, 2026
Day 7
From Memory to Resilience: A Journey Through Israel’s South
Our day began at the KKL–JNF Headquarters in Jerusalem. We sat in the same conference room where Chaim Weizmann, the first President of Israel, was declared, and browsed the digitally restored Golden Books, one of the earliest examples of organised crowdfunding and social networking in Jewish history. This is a place where history was shaped, where decisions were made that affected Jews all over the world. From buying land with funds collected more than 150 years ago, to creating jobs, developing educational centres, and developing Hebrew books—this is where it all began. We paused to take a group photo, aware that we were standing at the heart of a story that continues to shape our people.
We then headed south to the sites of October 7. Our first stop was the Sderot police station, where we met Elor, a volunteer paramedic who shared his personal account of that morning. He spoke about the horrors he encountered, the shift from confusion to determination, and from fear to courage. These moments left a deep mark on Israeli society, moments remembered by anyone who watched the events streaming live.
“Atem shel Yisrael?” (“Are you of Israel?”) – the cry of six-year-old Romi Suissa shook us to our core and remains a painful reminder of the neighbourhood surrounding Israel.
Standing there together, we felt the weight of responsibility, unity, and the true meaning of being part of Am Yisrael. Sderot is growing and nowadays has more people living there than before October 7th.
We enjoyed lunch at a local Moroccan restaurant called “Mama Dali” where a variety of fresh salads and freshly baked breads were waiting for us on the table. Soon after, the waiter began bringing out fried pastries (pastels) filled with potatoes, followed by couscous with vegetables, oven-baked chicken, meatballs, and potatoes. Each dish was outstanding—among the most delicious we’ve had on the trip so far. The love and high-quality ingredients were evident in every single dish. For a sweet ending, we were served pastries filled with chocolate, nuts, and apples, and of course, coffee and tea, which perfectly complemented such a memorable and delicious meal.
We left Sderot and continued on to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, the Nova site, and Kibbutz Magen. In Kibbutz Kfar Aza, we walked among the remains of severely damaged homes—walls pierced by bullet holes, houses charred and destroyed. This kibbutz, like others, has become a place of remembrance, offering a powerful connection to the people, their stories, and the lives they lived.
Before reaching the Nova site, we paused to gather ourselves. The overwhelming magnitude of loss there was deeply moving. Seeing the faces of the young victims and reading their stories left us emotional and silent. Each of us chose one name—out of 378—to carry with us, honouring their memory with a minute of silence. Our visit then continued to Kibbutz Magen and its JNF-funded resilience centre, a powerful reminder of strength, renewal, and the enduring truth that Am Yisrael Chai.
One of the most meaningful moments of our journey was an evening dinner in Sha’ar HaNegev with local educators and young community leaders. Through conversation, we learned how the community is rebuilding through education and a network of passionate, dedicated leaders.
A particularly powerful conversation was with Shlomtzion, the principal of Alonim Elementary School. She spoke about the importance of returning to a sense of “normality” and establishing a temporary educational framework just ten days after October 7. This network proved crucial in reconnecting students, teachers, and families while they were evacuated to different hotels for many months. Teachers volunteered, children’s books were donated, and educational materials arrived daily from across the country. She emphasised her responsibility to encourage fellow educators to return to work rather than remain frozen in trauma. As an educator, she explained, she had to put her own pain aside to focus on shaping the next generation with strength and pride.
Our Coffee Dialogue focused on community resilience, continuity, and the importance of moving forward through hope and purposeful action. Shlomtzion shared how deeply she was inspired by the lyrics from the song “Coming Home” by Hatikva 6:
“But most of all, I love coming back home after being away all night, especially upon returning to the South.”
Our conversation highlighted the powerful role education plays in bringing people back to Sha’ar HaNegev—rebuilding connections, strengthening resilience, and restoring a sense of safety and trust. It was inspiring to see how deeply education is woven into the healing process.
This evening reminded us that travel is not only about the places we visit, but about the people we meet and the meaningful conversations that stay with us long after the journey continues.
Osnat, Liat, Orly and Ela