Israel is not just another destination to visit. It is the birthplace of the Jewish people, the setting of the Bible, and the foundation of Jewish identity. Every Jewish holiday, every biblical story, every prayer comes alive when you understand that it all happened here, in our God-given, indigenous, ancestral homeland.

We also discussed a reality many young Jews rarely hear about: the ongoing security challenges Israel faces, the ideology driving jihadist terrorism, and how media narratives often distort the daily reality on the ground. From misleading headlines to selective reporting, too many people leave Israel with an incomplete picture of the challenges, and miracles, that define life here today.

My message was simple: don’t spend your trip seeing Israel as just another beautiful place. Walk this land knowing it is your land. Connect every mountain, valley, and ancient stone to your own Jewish story. When you strengthen your connection to the Land of Israel, you strengthen your Jewish identity.