A participant on the recent HonestReporting Leadership Mission to Israel, Rabbi Aryeh Markman, shares his thoughts on the trip:
We toured the controversial security fence, flew the entire length of the Green Line in a small chartered plane, and toured the Syrian border with an IDF officer who imparted lessons in military strategy that you only hear at West Point. We went through checkpoints, rode in armored busses, and handled guns, bullets and tank missiles. We saw documentaries on the issues, and heard from reporters — Jewish, non-Jewish and even Palestinian — from the New York Times, Time magazine, CBS News and more. We met with government ministers, visited victims of terror, and heard from the left, the right, the center, the passionate, the logical, and the frustrated.
I thought I knew my stuff before this trip, as I am an addicted Middle East news and history junkie. But I was wrong. It is one thing to read an article, attend a lecture, or watch a televised report. But to have the opportunity to grill an expert, a reporter, or a politician on their turf is quite another. I discovered vast underlying complexities that I never imagined.
The trip was a fantastic success. Interested in joining us on next year’s HR mission? Just drop us a line, and we’ll keep you updated as the date approaches.
