By: BGU Halutz candidate Diandra Etkin

The Journey to Israel: More Than a Flight

When I was asked to write about my experience during the Halutz Global Leadership Initiative, I didn’t expect it to be so difficult—not because I have nothing to say, but because it’s hard to put into words what it felt like to finally be in Israel after trying, again and again, since October 7th, 2023, to get there.

The journey was anything but straightforward. After months of longing, planning, and hoping, simply walking through the airport upon arrival was deeply emotional—an indescribable moment that symbolized resilience, persistence, and connection.

Strangers to Soulmates: The First Night

Before meeting in person, our group had only seen each other twice over Zoom. I remember feeling humbled by the stories, backgrounds, and accomplishments of my fellow participants. But nothing could have prepared me for the soul-to-soul bonds we were about to form.

Our first night set the tone: a warm, welcoming meal at the home of Jeff Kaye. It was more than just delicious food—it was the first step in transforming twenty strangers into a family.

Long Days, Limitless Energy

From that evening on, each day began early and ended late—but none of us ever truly felt tired. We were too energized, too engaged by the people we met and the ideas we explored. At Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, we spoke with leading researchers and passionate students, gaining insight into the innovation and determination driving Israel forward.

Jerusalem: Embracing the Power of Confusion

Our first full day was spent in Jerusalem with the incredible Noam Savion, whose teaching deeply challenged our assumptions. He invited us to view Israel through a pluralistic and paradoxical lens—asking us to shed our Western-centric worldviews and embrace discomfort, confusion, and complexity.

Though I’ve visited Israel many times and teach its history and current events, I left that day more puzzled than when I began. And that was the point. As educators, we know learning begins where certainty ends. Noam helped us lean into the unknown—not to find quick answers, but to ask better questions.

Bearing Witness: Nova and Kibbutz Holit

One of the most emotional and unforgettable moments came when we visited the site of the Nova Festival and Kibbutz Holit. I struggle to find words for what I felt there. To stand in the place where, not long ago, there was unimaginable terror—the largest act of violence against Jews since the Holocaust—was to witness history in the most painful way.

I’ve been to Auschwitz. I’ve walked the streets of Poland and Germany, bearing silent witness to the memory of Jewish life and death. But standing at the Nova site was different. I felt everything: grief, anger, fear, disbelief—and, profoundly, gratitude.

As the tears came, I realized I was releasing years of pain and the weight of fighting antisemitism in my daily life. That moment will stay with me forever.

Exploring Innovation: Be’er Sheva and Sde Boker

Our visits to the Be’er Sheva and Sde Boker campuses of Ben-Gurion University added even more depth to the experience. Meeting professors, directors, cadets, and researchers across a range of disciplines—medicine, engineering, cybersecurity, humanities, natural and social sciences—brought the university’s ethos to life.

At Sde Boker, the innovative research happening in desert agriculture, clean water technologies, and biotechnology is nothing short of astonishing. Their mission, “From the Desert to the World,” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a living philosophy visible in everything they do.

Connecting the Past to the Future

As someone who had just completed a classroom unit on David Ben-Gurion and Israeli inventions, visiting the Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism and learning more about Ben-Gurion’s vision was particularly powerful. Seeing how his dream of making the Negev bloom continues to thrive gave me a renewed sense of purpose.

I can now return to my students not only with stories and photos, but with firsthand experiences that will deepen their understanding and connection to Israel and BGU.

More Than a Program: A Life-Changing Experience

This blog post barely scratches the surface of what the Halutz program gave me. There is nothing “brief” about this journey. The connections we made, the knowledge we gained, and the emotions we experienced—these are not just memories; they are now a part of who I am.

To be a Halutz participant is to carry a piece of Israel in your soul, forever. I am endlessly grateful for this opportunity, and for the people who made it so impactful.

Diandra Etkin is the 2025 Halutz Candidate from Winnipeg and the former co-president of BGU Canada Winnipeg. She is a grade 5 and 6 teacher.