Last weekend, life in Israel shifted in an instant.
In this personal reflection, Emma Dunn, Senior Director of Honeymoon Israel’s Israel Office, shares what it felt like to move from the energy of the Tel Aviv Marathon to the sound of nationwide sirens just 24 hours later. Writing from Tel Aviv, Emma reflects on resilience, vulnerability, community, and what this moment means for Israel, for the Jewish people, and for Honeymoon Israel’s mission.
Her words offer an honest look at the complexity of life on the ground — and a reminder that even in times of war, connection remains essential.
We invite you to read, reflect, and stay connected.
Written by Emma Dunn, Senior Director of HMI’s Israel Office
At 8:15 AM on Friday, February 27th, I was cooling down after racing in the Tel Aviv Marathon alongside more than 50,000 runners – the largest race in the city’s history. DJs lined the route, elevating the electric mood of runners and supporters. There was joy, sweat, and cheering, even as the country had been on the brink of war for weeks.
At 8:15 AM on Saturday, February 28th, every cell phone across the country blared at once. Seconds later, the air raid siren followed with an alert announcing a “special situation” and the requirement that everyone remain close to their nearest bomb shelter.
The last time this happened was in June 2025, and the 12-day war with Iran followed. I had only been living in Israel for a few months then, preparing for what we hoped would be an exciting return of Honeymoon Israel trips. When tensions escalated last June, and as tensions rose again in recent weeks, HMI made the difficult but intentional decision to postpone travel – a decision guided by the safety of our couples, staff, and partners.
One of the first things you learn spending time here is how Israelis hold many emotions at once – fear and humor, worry and hope – and how they continue pursuing normal life despite unthinkable challenges. Then and now, we spend hours in bomb shelters sharing news updates, personal stories, and homemade snacks — right now, Purim cookies called hamantaschen, or oznei Haman (“Haman’s ears”). We emerge not just relieved, but bonded in a powerful way.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has changed irrevocably. From the shock of that day and the ongoing hostage crisis, to the dramatic reshaping of the Middle East, this has been a period of upheaval and transformation. Israeli society feels both fragile and strong: united in moments of crisis. But it is of course, more complicated between them.
During days of war, schools, workplaces, restaurants, and beaches close so people remain close to shelter. In Tel Aviv, where I live, we receive alert warnings that a siren may sound in our area – usually about five minutes notice – followed by the unmistakable alarm that gives us 90 seconds to reach safety. From inside the shelter, we hear the booms of interceptions overhead, and sometimes, rarely but painfully, the sound or news of impact.
Those minutes inside the shelter reveal something essential about Israeli society: a deep, instinctive commitment to community. We check in on each other. We find humor in moments of stress and absurdity. We update those who don’t have cell service, or are keeping Shabbat on Saturday (and can’t check their phones).
My work at Honeymoon Israel exists in this space between vulnerability and resilience. As Senior Director of our Israel Office, I try to both highlight the strength and complexity of Israeli society to the world, and to plan for a future when we bring more groups to Israel safely and consistently.
In the week prior to this most recent escalation, Honeymoon Israel made the difficult decision to postpone groups scheduled to arrive on February 27th. We have made similar decisions multiple times over the past two and a half years. Each time, safety and emotional comfort come first. And each time, we trust that our mission, connecting couples to Jewish life through an Israel experience, will emerge more necessary than before.
As an American, I see clearly the obstacles to connection between Israeli society and many North American Jews. The distance feels wider right now. The political complexity is real. The questions are challenging.
But as someone living and building a life here, I also see something else: Proof that the importance of visiting Israel will only increase. Not to receive simple answers. Not to walk away with certainty. But to encounter reality in its entirety. To understand that Israel is not how it’s represented in the global headlines, it is an unshakably resilient society wrestling with its present and shaping its future. And at its core: We are celebrating life.
For HMI alumni: Stay connected. Reach out to your cohort and Israeli friends. Continue learning. Hold compassion with your confusion. Relationships matter more than ever.
For those considering applying: Do not let fear or polarization be the only lens through which you understand Israel. When travel is safe, come see it for yourself. Let the experience expand you.
For our funders and supporters: Your partnership allows us to keep building bridges even when the ground feels unsteady.
And for all of us: We can’t disengage. The Jewish story has never been written in easy chapters. We move forward through connection.
As I write this, I feel many things at once, a very Israeli trait. The marathon and the first sirens happened 24 hours apart. Both are part of life here. And both are reminders of why building an enduring Jewish community, locally and globally, isn’t a choice but a necessity.
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