Today marks the final day of our Amplify Israel Rabbinic Fellowship mission in Israel. We began with a deeply moving visit to Kfar Julis, a Druze village in the northeastern part of the country. I’ve long been fascinated by the Druze faith, which is rooted in values of truth, humility, and unity. Their guiding principles include always telling the truth, never lying, caring for one another, believing in one God, and recognizing that everything in life comes from God.
We were warmly welcomed into the Central Religious Center, which is named after Sheikh Amin Tarif (1898–1993), whose tomb rests in one room of the beautiful building. Sheikh Tarif was a humble and deeply learned man, versed in world religions and politics. He was a tireless advocate for peace and peaceful coexistence. One of the core tenets of Druze belief is reincarnation, a concept embraced even by their secular Druze members, who live their lives in accordance with this belief.
The Druze trace their spiritual lineage back to Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. Above all, they are some of the most hospitable people I’ve encountered. Since childhood, I’ve grown to admire their peaceful nature, and today, I was moved to tears hearing about their unwavering support for Israel, their calls for peace, and their solidarity with the return of hostages, side by side with Israelis and Jews worldwide. In a time when antisemitism is on the rise, learning about and connecting with the Druze faith has provided me with a profound sense of comfort and hope.
Our day continued in Haifa (my hometown!) at the Leo Baeck Education Center, one of Israel’s leading educational institutions. It offers high-quality programs for a diverse range of students, including those in mainstream, gifted, and special needs categories, from all racial, religious, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
With over 400 staff members and a student body of more than 2,500, the Leo Baeck Center stands out as the only institution in Northern Israel that integrates students on the autism spectrum into its mainstream middle and high school programs for ages 13 to 21.
The school is also deeply committed to community engagement through student-run outreach projects, Jewish-Arab shared existence initiatives, and numerous international exchange programs. Through these efforts, Leo Baeck students connect with peers and communities both across Israel and around the world, including through delegations and “Young Ambassador” programs.
We had the pleasure of meeting incredibly kind and driven students who eagerly shared their aspirations and experiences, discussing their future plans, both in Israel and around the world, including in the USA.
Our day, and the intense week we had, concluded at Yekev Alexander (Alexander Winery) in Beit Yitzhak, where we came together to reflect on the insights, questions, and knowledge we had gained throughout this transformative journey. It was, without a doubt, the most challenging yet profoundly meaningful mission I’ve ever been a part of.
A heartfelt thank you to Rabbi Tracy Kaplowitz and Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch for organizing, crafting, and dedicating so much effort to making this exceptional experience possible for us, the Amplify Israel Rabbinic Fellowship Cohort 2025. Because of your hard work, my life has been enriched in ways I never expected. My mind and soul were challenged, and my heart has expanded in ways I didn’t know were possible.
Am Yisrael Chai ve’kayam! עם ישראל חי וקיים The People of Israel will live on, because that is what we do: we continually choose and sanctify “life” ובחרת בחיים
