Last August, twenty young Christians aged 18 to 35, led by Dina Ehrhardt and Lena Düfelsiek, traveled to Israel with Young Christians on the Side of Israel (JCSI) to get to know the country and its people and, at the same time, gain a biblical perspective on God's people. Such a trip almost always leaves a lasting impression. This was also true for participant Friedrich Boroica, who shares his personal impressions here.
By Friedrich Boroica
“Why am I even here?” This one question had been nagging at me all morning. I was walking through the streets of Jerusalem at dawn. Like every day, I had gotten up before my fellow travelers to pray during a walk. It had been our first night in the Holy City, and I hadn't slept very well. Too much was going through my mind and heart.
For example, the memorable first evening of our trip in Tel Aviv concluded with a get-to-know-you session accompanied by sirens and a stroll through Old Jaffa. A promising start. The next day, after giving an interview to an Israeli television crew on the beautifully landscaped roof of our hotel, we headed to the vibrant city center. Our destination, the Azrieli Sarona Tower, was visible in the distance. Inside the city's tallest building, we immersed ourselves in the world of "Startup Nation Israel" during a presentation and thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent view. The Sarona Market, where we spent our lunch break, is always worth a visit.
Thus fortified, we set off for our next destination: a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee. Our accommodation for the next three nights was located in the southern part of this historically significant place. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. As someone with a keen interest in history, I was captivated by this region. Names and places I had only ever read about before suddenly came to life. The Bible became more accessible and vibrant. And even though we could only scratch the surface, I am incredibly grateful for what I experienced there.
There was, for example, this small village where you got a glimpse of what life was like 2,000 years ago. Freshly pressed grape juice, homemade flatbread, and the clothing of that era were an experience in themselves. Our meeting at midday on the Syrian border with the former head of a very interesting military project opened up another perspective for me—a feeling that became very familiar to me as the trip progressed. It's a different country, a different people with a unique history in a fascinating time. Definitely not like Germany. What a wonderful change of pace! Our evening buggy tour, which we combined with a detour to Hippos, was incredibly fun.
Things were a bit more relaxed the next morning when we had some time to ourselves at a water park on the way to the city of Shefar'am. The next experience, which awaited us at midday, was a complete contrast to what we had experienced so far. We were invited to the home of a Christian Arab who works as a doctor in an Orthodox Jewish hospital and lives in a predominantly Muslim city. I had a thousand questions, but out of consideration for the group, I only managed to ask two. I arranged with him that I would ask the remaining 998 questions on my next visit… After some ice cream, we returned to our kibbutz for a Shabbat meal with the journalist and her boyfriend who had interviewed us in Tel Aviv. And just like that. Another perspective.
Day five began with our departure towards the Negev Desert. Naturally, we made a detour to the Dead Sea, including the obligatory souvenir shop spree. Arriving in Nitzana, there wasn't much time to unpack, as our desert guides were eagerly awaiting us, ready to show us the wonders of the Negev Desert. The food they prepared for us was delicious, and our conversations with them were far too brief.
Here, for the first time, a thought occurred to me that wouldn't leave me for the next few days: "Why am I even here?" So there I was, sitting by the campfire in the desert, halfway through the journey, completely overwhelmed by what had happened, a thousand thoughts racing through my head and heart. Little did I know what the next day would hold for us. With our suitcases packed and sandwiches made, we were given a tour of the Nitzana grounds – this magnificent project that deserves several pages dedicated to it. But there's another part of the journey that I'll never forget.
From Nitzana, we drove to Kerem Shalom, a kibbutz located right on the border with Egypt and Gaza. Our guide, Dina, told us we would meet a couple who were survivors of the October 7th massacre and hear their story. But it was more than just hearing. Much more. Because the two of them didn't just tell us what happened; they walked with us the path they had taken that morning. The bullet holes, the destroyed wall, the blown-out bunker door in front of which the father of six had stood to protect his family. Accompanied by the muffled sounds of artillery fire, fired at irregular intervals by the Israeli army, the IDF. The whole thing felt surreal to me. Somehow indescribable.
It's difficult for me to put into words the impression these hours left on me. "You can't understand the Middle East if you haven't been there. You can't understand Israel if you haven't been there. Talked to the people. Seen the country." I've heard these sentences often. In this moment, I think I understand them.
From Kerem Shalom, we drove to the Nova Festival Memorial and the car graveyard. Even so, seeing these places I'd only ever heard about felt like scratching the surface. Our drive to Jerusalem, our final stop, was very quiet. "What am I even doing here?" There it was again, that thought.
In the evening, after dinner, a very interesting encounter was on the agenda: We had the opportunity to hear the story of a young married couple and their experiences surrounding that momentous day, October 7, 2023. As they spoke, it became clear to me that nothing would ever be the same for me again. Not after that day.
Which brings us back to the aforementioned morning stroll through the Holy City and the question: "Why am I actually here?" I only received an answer to that two days later during an evening prayer walk: "I want to show you my people." "Well, you've succeeded, God. I'm beginning to understand why you love them so much."
I could write so much more about everything we experienced during this trip: the visit to Yad Vashem, the tour of the Jewish Agency, the meeting with a Holocaust survivor, the beautiful City of David, and so much more. I am deeply grateful to God for making these experiences possible. The trip was worthwhile and will be worthwhile for anyone willing to open their heart and eyes. Because I am convinced that God wants to reveal to everyone who earnestly asks who Israel is. I personally still have so many questions—and I will return to Israel to find more answers.
Would you like to help young people discover Israel? Then become a sponsor of our Lifechanger trip – you can find more information here.
