This fall, 15 members of the Indianapolis Jewish community embarked on an inspiring journey to Israel for the Partnership2Gether (P2G) 2025 Hatikva Summit in the Western Galilee. The cohort joined more than 60 participants from 17 U.S. communities and the Budapest P2G Consortium where they celebrated the true meaning of Hatikva: hope.

The summit was more than just a conference for Indianapolis participants, it was a celebration of connection, collaboration and shared vision among Jewish communities worldwide.

“It was an amazing opportunity to reinforce our connections in the Jewish community and see the work within the region and the Druze community,” said Larry Turow.

Together, participants explored innovative programs, engaged in meaningful dialogue and strengthened the bonds that unite the collective global Jewish family.

Lauren Suriel, P2G Indianapolis Chair, said to be in Israel, just weeks after the remaining living hostages were freed, was to collectively exhale alongside our Israeli friends as they slowly began to rebuild their new normal.

“That is what partnership is all about: to build real and lasting connections with Israelis,” Suriel said. “We laughed with friends over dinner with our host families and cried with bereaved families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price.”

Suriel added “Although two years of war have put a pause on most coexistence projects inside Israel, one experience that brought a glimmer of hope to me was the Equalizer program in Akko. This program brings together at-risk Jewish and Arab kids and connects them to resources and each other through soccer. Sitting with them and speaking to them in Hebrew and Arabic, and then running around the soccer field, was a good reminder that a better tomorrow is possible.”

In addition to the Akko visit, the group engaged with Israel Defense Forces‘ soldiers, toured local communities, heard from displaced citizens and bereaved families affected by the Israel-Hamas War, met heroes of resilience, spoke with executives and owners of businesses in the evacuation zone, and participated in hands-on volunteering.

Trip participant Dr. Louis Profeta said that he and his wife Sheryl’s favorite part of the trip was when they visited a Druze village where they learned about their culture and enjoyed a lunch together.

“That was an incredibly special moment,” Profeta said. “It gave us the opportunity to make new friends.”

He added, “The most meaningful part of the trip was the night at the hotel and listening to the survivor of the Nova massacre talk about her experience. It reaffirmed to us our responsibility as Jews to tell the story, to not back down, to be the light unto the world, to be on the right side of history. We owe it to those survivors. It was an amazing experience, and we loved every bit of it.”

This trip was David Flaumenhaft’s first P2G trip to Israel and his second P2G trip when he went on the P2G Young Adult Program to Budapest in 2024. He said that having the opportunity to meet new people and view the beauty of the homeland was inspiring.

“Being together with new and old friends, in our homeland, is a memory I will deeply cherish,” he said. “Israel is an amazing country. Eating fruits from Moshav Liman right off the tree and spending time laughing while sharing stories will forever be my favorite highlights of the trip. The perspectives gained from visiting with bereaved families and with high school students have given me a deeper connection with my own Judaism and children. When the war started, our family knew that we wanted to give both financially and spiritually to our Partnership region. This trip allowed me to understand the impact we can make when we work together as a community and as a community of communities. Partnership2gether is so much more than a trip, it is a moment in time that changes you for a lifetime.”