A Visit to Karmiel-Misgav
Bearing witness and giving thanks
After three canceled attempts due to the war, I finally traveled to our sister region of Karmiel-Misgav with a deep sense of purpose, to contribute, to listen, and to bear witness on behalf of our Pittsburgh community. Arriving just as the winter holiday season began in the U.S., I found myself viewing every moment through profound gratitude and amazement.
Known around the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh as the “camera guy,” I documented the journey through a photo journal, hoping to capture both the beauty and unwavering resilience of our extended family in northern Israel. I was warmly welcomed by partners including Shaked Gal, who leads the Diller Teen Fellows program, partially funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, connecting Jewish teens worldwide through leadership and shared identity.
One of the most powerful moments came at the Pittsburgh Promenade, where 11 trees honor the 11 lives taken on Oct. 27, 2018. Standing before this living memorial — half a world away — I felt the truth that Jewish community transcends geography. It binds us across continents with enduring responsibility and love.
The realities of life in the region were also unmistakable. The home of Partnership2Gether, normally a lively hub of exchange between our communities, now doubles as a bomb shelter, a daily reminder of families who have just 30 seconds to seek safety. Yet even there, signs of partnership and creativity endure.
As Thanksgiving approached, I returned home reminded of the strength of our global Jewish family and the unbreakable bonds that continue to sustain us, even in times of distance. PJC
Riley Crow is the marketing and communications coordinator at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh.
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