Two South Carolinians travel to the Holy Land in the midst of the war to speak comfort and mercy to those they meet
When
Tour with Purpose appeared on CMJ USA’s website, my wife and I connected, thanks to our CMJ-Shoresh Holy Land study tour led by Dr. Theresa Newell in March-April, 2023. After the horrific Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, we had monitored and prayed over events in Israel and the proliferation of antisemitism in the US and the world. We learned CMJ Israel was using their guest houses as safe havens for evacuees and that many staff and family members were being called to military service. CMJ delivered food and supported displaced and needy families and implemented the
Tour with Purpose program to bring small groups of volunteers to Israel to help. This program offered us a wonderful opportunity to leave the sidelines.
After numerous WhatsApp conversations with CMJ staffer, and now good friend, Laura Applebaum, and two flight cancellations by US airlines, we arrived in Tel Aviv via El Al on November 14. We walked through Ben Gurion airport, greeted by pictures of the many children, women, and men murdered, tortured, raped, and/or kidnapped by Hamas. During our stay we encountered these pictures, and many yellow ribbons, posted throughout Israel’s cities and countryside, a constant reminder of the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Greeted by Laura, we traveled to Christ Church Guest House in Jerusalem and met Denise Mortlock from South Africa, the fourth member of our team.
We share some experiences below, along with a few photos. Not once did we feel unsafe during our time in Israel. Western mainstream media’s exaggeration of the situation in Israel harms their economy by discouraging tourism. There were tourists from Asia, Africa, and other countries, in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, albeit with smaller crowds, and we encountered numerous Israeli children walking and playing in the streets and plazas.
Friday evening, we, along with Christian tourists from Thailand and other volunteers staying at Christ Church, participated in a
Shabbat dinner held in the guest house dining room. Roddey Harel, our knowledgeable Jerusalem guide, spoke, and a special guest, an IDF Captain, answered questions about his tours in Gaza and Lebanon. Saturday, with volunteer options restricted on Shabbat, Roddey led us on a walking tour in old Jerusalem to see some extraordinary archeological excavations of ancient biblical sites.
Sunday, CMJ Israel’s deputy director, Scott Morgan, drove our foursome to
Moshav Ein HaBesor, located some 3 miles from the Gaza border. Similar to a kibbutz, moshav members privately own property and voluntarily work together as a business community. Kibbutz assets and property are jointly owned by its members who live and work in a more socialist economy. At the farm’s facility we packed lettuce for market alongside several Thai workers who have returned to Israel’s “salad trail” after some 30,000 left when the war started. Miraculously, Ein HaBesor residents were able to close their entrance gate at the last moment, preventing Hamas’ assault. Only two members of the community were wounded.
Later we visited the Nova Music Festival Massacre site. There are no words to express the grief of this place, now a memorial, where over 364 innocent concert attendees were murdered, raped, and kidnapped by Hamas.
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Monday, we moved to CMJ’s Beit Immanuel Guest House in Tel Aviv. We worked at
Soldier’s House, located in a Tel Aviv parking garage. Volunteers distribute donations of household provisions, hygiene products, and supplies from all over the world to evacuated families, soldiers, and others in need. We folded bath linens and packed boxes for distribution. We also had our only experience of what the Israeli people have lived with for many years. At 8:40 p.m. an alarm sounded giving everyone 90 seconds to get to the basement shelter. Fortunately, Israel has several defense systems and the missile, fired from Lebanon, was intercepted and destroyed.
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Diners take donated food offered after the meal at Lasova Soup Kitchen in Tel Aviv
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Bonnie serves a nutritious kosher meal at Lasova Soup Kitchen in Tel Aviv
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Diners enjoy a hot, nutritious, kosher meal at Lasova Soup Kitchen in Tel Aviv
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After Tuesday morning’s devotion session, led by the guest house staff, we assisted with cleaning and replenishing guest rooms. Afterwards we walked through Tel Aviv to nearby Jaffa.
Wednesday, our final day, we served meals in the
Lasova Soup Kitchen. Open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily, one hot, nutritious, kosher meal a day is provided to 250+ disadvantaged people who cannot afford basic necessities. Diners are asked to pay one Israeli shekel (27 cents). If funds aren’t on hand, there’s no charge. Food is donated by farmers, businesses, restaurants, and event halls. Additional donated food is offered to anyone desiring to take something with them. On our day, freshly baked bread, grapefruit, trays of frozen slaw or beets were handed out. Donated clothing was also available on a table in the entrance hall.
Meeting and working with Israeli citizens and volunteers from many countries and having opportunities to serve in God’s Holy Land and observe first-hand the resilience of His people to adapt and thrive in spite of the trauma of war, testifies to our God’s power and love. Scott, Laura, Denise, Roddey, and our many new Israeli friends, blessed us more than we could ever have imagined. Thanks to CMJ Israel for providing a wonderful, Spirit filled experience.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!” –
Psalm 122:6 (ESV)
Bill and Bonnie Anderson, both retired, are strong supporters of Israel and the ministry of CMJ. They live on beautiful Wadmalaw Island near Charleston, South Carolina, and worship at St. John’s Parish Church, Anglican, on John's Island.
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