Speaking to my Neshama

The second day on the trip was overwhelming in the best possible way. I was moved by all of the speakers, both formally and personally, who blessed my journey with wisdom and metaphors that I can apply to nearly every aspect of my life. The programming is so informational, and inspirational and speaks to my neshama in many ways.

Our tour of Tel Aviv was amazing. One highlight was visiting the Battae Ethiopian Israeli Heritage Center and meeting the founder, Ashager Araro. From hearing her family’s story of returning home to Israel to learning Ethiopian dances and then getting to taste all of the amazing vegan food, the experience is unforgettable and something I will remember for life.

Our private tour guide did an amazing job collaborating with Momentum to give us a unique tour that showed us the beautiful city. It was so easy to see all of the magic within mundane everyday life in Tel Aviv.

Our walk and sightseeing was followed by a visit to the Anu museum of Jewish people. This was such a bittersweet experience. It was so amazing to learn about Jews in every corner of the world through museum education. The experience was immersive and told a beautiful story of our collective history. The part of this education that was less than sweet was seeing the adversity and pain Jews have endured throughout history. Yet despite this adversity, our collective experiences with persecution and resilience are not what defines Jews. It is all of the contributions Jews have made in the arts, music, history, medicine, science, and every discipline and area of life that make our people so great.

The most impactful part of my day was going shopping and to dinner with my new Israeli sisters. Anna, Dor, Tsvia, and Yael helped me pick out a new dress, helped us order, and created a safe and intimate space for me to open up about my difficult decision to leave an abusive relationship and choose wellness for myself and my child. Nothing can compare to the solace of taking the risk to be vulnerable and being received with nothing but chesed and encouragement.

These will be women I will stay connected with and hopefully continue to have life-long friendships and sisterhood with. I could never have imagined being able to make such strong connections so quickly. This speaks to the many values of Momentum and will change my relationship with my Jewishness, the greater Jewish community, and Israel.

Erica Cohen
Jewish Federation of Reading
Reading, PA