By Alex Schneider

JULY 16; ROSH HANIKRAH, ISRAEL – At Rosh HaNikrah, a single hill separates the two nations of Israel and Lebanon.  Our bus drives this solemn July afternoon on the southern side along an Israeli highway.  I am aware looking out at the hill that as a Jew and a participant on NCSY’s The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) that I will never have the opportunity to cross this border.  And yet, the setting sun that now shines over our tour bus is – no doubt – visible from either side.  It is a reminder that this conflict will one day end.

That is the hope that guides our daily prayer when we face east toward Israel – the hope that underlies our decision today to visit the family of Ehud Goldwasser and drive by the border where his body now lays.

Until I came to this country, I had heard little of the captured prisoners.  The US media, naturally, does not dedicate the front page to a conflict of over sixty years.  But in Israel, anyone turning to channel 2 (as we did in our hotel rooms) would see nationwide, 24-hour coverage of this prisoner exchange occurring at Rosh Hanikrah.

And what an unfair exchange it is.  Two soldiers – status unconfirmed – handed over in return for the release of five terrorists and the bodies of other terrorists (removed from graves given them by the Israelis).  Two soldiers.  That’s it.  And yet, the entire country comes together to mourn because in Israel, as throughout the Jewish Community, there is a feeling of responsibility and dedication to individuals.  In Judaism, we celebrate the achievements of our neighbors and mourn when issues befall one of the members of our community.  The ideal is stated simply: ‘Kol yisrael areivim zeh l’zeh.’  All Jews are responsible for one another.

In this spirit, we put off the day’s activities and drove from the Sea of the Galilee to Nehariya on the Mediterranean Sea to pay our respects.  That’s how Jews from across America found themselves this morning before the home of Ehud Goldwasser’s wife in front of a sea of photojournalists.  We felt a responsibility to light candles and pay our respects.  Did our actions change the current conflict?  No.  Did they bring any consolation to the family?  I cannot imagine that the Goldwassers will ever find complete consolation.

Then what did we accomplish?  The answer is simple:  we proved to ourselves – as did the rest of Israel today – that we can be strong in the face of adversity and we can come together even when the logical thing would have been to follow our regular schedule: to hold the final events of our color war and bike through the hills of Rosh HaNikrah.

Two weeks ago, a terrorist ran a bulldozer through a crowded street down the road from our hotel.  Today, we were supposed to ride cable cars at Rosh HaNikrah.  That is the reality of Israel – in such a small country, the news comes alive and affects everyone.  Even a bunch of American NCSYers.