Leaders from Jewish Federations of North America’s Pride Mission to Israel detail trip, missile attacks

RANCHO MIRAGE, Cali. (KESQ) -- Leaders with the Jewish Federation of the Desert have returned from Israel after getting stranded during this month's missile attacks, and spoke about their experiences on Monday.

The event took place at 11:00 a.m. at Jewish Federation of the Desert. It focused on sharing firsthand accounts from the recent LGBTQ+ Federation Mission to Israel and discussing the experience of being in Israel during the initial days of the ongoing war with Iran. According to the Federation, the delegation returned with powerful stories of resilience, identity, and solidarity.

The recent Jewish Federations of North America’s Pride Mission to Israel brought 100 LGBTQ+ Jewish leaders from 26 communities across the US and Canada to Israel for a trip that was concluding just as the Iranian missile attacks began. 

"I wasn't afraid so much," said Kenneth Emert, Rabbi of Sun City Jewish Services Palm Desert. Emert went on the trip, and was forced to shelter inside during missile attacks. "I was more worried about how I was going to get home. While we were there, for example, around one o'clock in the morning you'd hear sirens go off, and you'd go down to the shelter. You'd be there for 15 to 20 minutes, or until everyone says it's okay to go back to your room. So you go back to your room, you go to sleep for an hour, and then again you hear these sirens, so you have to go down again. You never get a good night's sleep at all there.”
"On some level, the horrors of war cannot be imagined," said Danny Labin, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of the Desert. "They can only be understood once they've been experienced. And let us all hope that no one has to experience war who hasn't already experienced it." 
Labin says the group went on the trip to attend Tel Aviv Pride celebration, also to see where the Federation's fundraising dollars were going. The group had raised over $850,000,000 over the last 20 months. Some of the funds were used to construct bomb shelters, so Israeli families could seek shelter during missile attacks. Other funds went to build Trauma Recovery Centers, which help to provide mental health and PTSD treatments for local who have experienced the recent attacks first hand.

"These centers are called Resilience Centers and not trauma centers," said Labin."It really speaks to the optimism, the hope and the belief that this kind of therapeutic approach can actually be part of a healing process and lead to positive outcomes for people who experience them."

The group said they were aware of the risks of missile attacks before going on the trip, but believed it was important to follow through with the mission.

“It's day 11 since the war began with Iran directly, but it's actually day 628 of the war that began when Hamas infiltrated Israel on October 7th," said Labin. "So being able to go as a group, and to be there shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand with Israelis during this incredibly difficult time in history was extremely meaningful for everybody.”

"It's important that Israel and Israelis, know that they're not alone, that somebody there is supporting them," said Emert.

The Federation is beginning a new fundraising effort. To learn more or to donate click here.