They come to strengthen their connection to Israel, but they strengthen Israel as well

Each summer, thousands of American Jewish teenagers participate in NCSY summer programs in Israel, such as the Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey (TJJ), to deepen their connection to their Jewish heritage. This summer, many participants unexpectedly discovered that Israel needed them, particularly evident during a visit to Kibbutz Misgav Am near the Lebanese border. An IDF soldier told them, "We are trying to protect the Jewish home for you too… The only thing that keeps us going is you." This experience shifted the teenagers' perspective from being recipients of the Jewish story to understanding their responsibility for it. Many students, who had faced antisemitism at home, found that their presence in Israel provided strength and solidarity to Israelis. The article emphasizes that the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry is reciprocal, with American Jews contributing hope and reassurance to Israel, fostering a lasting Jewish identity among the youth.