By Gefen Miller
Last month, when the conflict between Israel and Iran known as the “Twelve-Day War” broke out, approximately 50 members of Beth Tfiloh Congregation’s annual family mission to the Jewish state suddenly found themselves trapped in the middle of a warzone.
But they say the challenging and terrifying experience greatly educated them about the daily struggles endured by Israelis during wartime, and strengthened their ties to the country.
With El Al flights suspended as of June 12, the BT mission landed in Israel on the previous evening. The following day, with Iranian missiles raining down on Israel in retaliatory attacks, full lockdowns around the country were ordered for everyone, including tourists looking forward to experiencing the sights, tastes and sounds of Israel.
“Obviously people were nervous, especially if they never experienced something like this,” said Beth Tfiloh’s Senior Rabbi Chai Posner, who led the mission. “There was also the practical [element] — I wanted everyone [on the mission] to experience as much of Israel as they could under these circumstances.”
Naturally, adapting to the change in plans was disappointing and disconcerting for some. Instead of visits to Tel Aviv beaches or Jerusalem’s Old City, mission members spent much of their vacation time sitting in bomb shelters and safe rooms.
Their experiences were documented on “BT Torah,” a group chat founded by Rabbi Posner. Now at 476 members, the chat group served — and continues to serve — as direct communication between Rabbi Posner, mission members and the rest of the community.
“I really wanted to give people [in the community] a sense of what was actually going on and also give them a positive feeling because they were rightfully worried about us,” said Rabbi Posner.
On the chat, the rabbi regularly shares video updates and uplifting messages.
“When you’re trying to give [the community] a positive feeling, it has an effect on you,” he said. “It helped me understand the historic nature of what was going on.”
During and after the conflict, mission members left Israel in intervals and by different means and routes. For instance, the Carliner family escaped through the Jordanian border, utilizing a family connection with a tour guide to obtain visas.
For safety reasons, the Carliners were instructed not to display any religious symbols or signs while in Jordan.
“Crossing into Jordan, I was not terribly nervous,” said Joseph Carliner, a Beth Tfiloh class of 2005 graduate and father of three. “[The Jordanian] people turned out to be very friendly.”
In the coastal Jordanian city of Aqaba, the Carliners arranged to board a flight to Greece. After a three-day stay there, they took a flight back home. Another mission family escaped the conflict through an embassy flight from Tel Aviv.
Upon returning home, some mission members spoke of their time and unique experiences in Israel at Shabbat services at Beth Tfiloh.
In retrospect, Rabbi Posner offered a philosophical and spiritual perspective on the mission experience.
“If God didn’t want us to be there [in Israel] at that time, we wouldn’t be,” he said. “Basically, we arrived in the afternoon [of the night of the first Israeli airstrike against Iraq] and left on the day of the ceasefire.”
A committed philanthropist and community leader, Russel was president of R&H Motors.
The mother of four was a native of Winchester, Virginia, who spent most of her life in Northwest Baltimore.
The remaining 6,000 members of the community are expected to immigrate by 2030.
The Columbia resident worked on the Gemini and Apollo space missions.