When Elah, 29, arrived on campus at a university in Ohio as a Jewish Agency Campus Israel Fellow, she came armed with a mission to bridge that gap between Israeli and Diaspora Jews, to help young Jews outside of Israel feel connected, seen, and understood.
Every year, The Jewish Agency, in partnership with Hillel, brings Israeli young adults who have completed their IDF army service and university to college campuses worldwide to serve as Israel Fellows. These Fellows help substitute education for ignorance when it comes to student opinions about Israel, creating safe spaces for tolerance and diversity, and give students a chance to develop lasting connections with an Israeli. They also help support student efforts to counter antisemitism on campus.
Originally from Elkana, a religious community in Israel’s Samaria region, Elah grew up immersed in Jewish tradition, with Jewish life a central part of her upbringing. She was an active member of the Bnei Akiva youth movement, and later studied Human Resources at Ariel University. Her passion for people was front and center in her role as an Israel Fellow, as she eagerly shared her life, stories, history and culture to help build relationships with students.
In early October 2023, Elah flew home to Israel for a surprise visit with her family, just two days before Hamas launched their brutal attack.
“I was there when the war broke out, and it was terrifying,” she shared. “My cousin, Hadar, was missing for 10 days before they found her body. All my brothers and cousins were called up to serve in the IDF reserves. The atmosphere was incredibly heavy.”
Despite the chaos, Elah stayed in touch with her students back on campus, even while helping prepare meals for soldiers, attending funerals and trying to figure out when and how to get back to campus.
“I was emotionally and physically exhausted, but I tried to respond when I could. The students reassured me and told me to focus on my family, telling me they were thinking of me and sending love,” Elah recounted. “And then when I flew back to the US, twenty students and staff were waiting at the airport, shouting my name. They all ran to hug me, and I just broke down crying. I realized in that moment how truly blessed I am. I came here to give, but I’ve received so much more.”
After October 7, the campus environment shifted, with an increase in antisemitism occurring and Jewish students grappling with either wanting to engage more deeply with their Jewish identity or feeling the need to hide it. Elah’s job was to support them through it all, doing so through various activities, including educational panels and cultural celebrations, and by offering safe spaces for open conversation.
“One of the most important things I could do is just listen. Students were confused by what they saw on social media, not always knowing what to believe. I gave them space to talk it out—and I responded with respect, even when we didn’t agree,” said Elah.
And though being an Israel Fellow, especially during the war, wasn’t easy, Elah gained so much from the experience.
“You leave your family, your language, your comfort zone. But what you gain—community, growth, purpose—is worth every challenge,” Elah reflected. “I loved each one of my students and being an Israel Fellow changed me in ways I never imagined.”
