Monmouth women return energized by Israel trip
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Monmouth women return energized by Israel trip

By Special to NJJN September 5, 2017, 12:00 am Edit
MOMentum participants at Decks in Tiberias.
MOMentum participants at Decks in Tiberias.

TEN MANALAPAN-AREA Jewish mothers were chosen for an exclusive “MOMentum” journey to Israel with the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP), Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, and Chabad of Western Monmouth County.

The MOMentum experience included an eight-day journey to Israel in July which stretched from the mystical Galilee city of Safed to the ancient desert mountaintop fortress Masada, and featured itineraries and curated curricula encompassing everything from Jewish values to contemporary Israeli society. The trips are designed to engage women to connect deeply with their Jewish heritage, and transform themselves, their families, communities, and the wider world.

Among the local women was Paula Alves, associate marketing director for Sunbird Software. “I returned home from a remarkable journey with 400 of my ‘sisters’ in the land of Israel,” said Alves. “It was a time of reflection and a time of growth.  Now that I am back at home, I am working towards sharing that feeling with our community. It was truly a journey that will last with me forever.”   

Joining her on the trip were Freya Markowitz, Stacey Garland, Lisa Dichter, Melissa Paul, Suzanna Cowan, Jennifer Rosenzweig, Liz Gore, Rivka Borish, and Chanale Wolosow. The women returned home prepared to work with JWRP and Chabad to design new programs both in the Jewish and wider communities.

“Our philosophy from the beginning has always been: inspire a woman, you inspire a family. Inspire enough families, you can change a community. Inspire enough communities, you can change the world,” said Lori Palatnik, JWRP’s founding director. 

The MOMentum journey “is part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen Israel’s relationship with diaspora communities around the world,” said Dvir Kahana, director-general of Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. “We are extremely proud of our strategic partnership with the JWRP. We share the vision of empowering Jewish women worldwide as leaders of the next generation with the ability and drive to raise children who are proud of their identity and strongly connected to Israel.”

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