Lisa Gottlieb-Cytron

By Lisa Gottlieb-Cytron

Although, sadly, I have never visited Israel, the country has strongly been in my consciousness all of my life. My father worked in the nonprofit sector supporting Israel with The Jewish Federation, Jewish National Fund, and American Technion Society. My husband and I have sent our older daughter on the Israel Bound trip (an experience of a lifetime!) and our younger daughter will follow this summer. I think of Israel as the great safety net for Jewish people around the world. I often wonder what it might feel like to be in a place where wearing Jewish insignia would always be comfortable, where you wouldn’t have concerns about work or school on jewish holidays, and things like bringing up that you’re jewish when choosing college roommates (just in case it’s a problem) wouldn’t have to occur. I am also in awe of the great things like the advances in technology and healthcare that come from there. Although there are very complex issues in Israel, and I struggle with many of them, I feel that it is so important to support Israel and its right to exist. I hope that this young state, established in an ancient land, moves in a direction of peace. I also hope to someday soon, feel the comfort of letting my guard down and visiting the great land of Israel.