By Alissa Haroush
LOS ANGELES — I’d be lying if I said I always felt a strong connection to Israel. I didn’t grow up in a house of “we have to visit Israel,” and only visited the country for the first time back in high school because I went with a friend, but it was then that I met my husband. I fell in love with him and loved Israel because he did. We often returned to visit family and, while I was happy to do so, I can’t say it was my ultimate vacation destination.
That’s until I joined Momentum’s Journey of Growth in 2021, which transformed my perspective on the Jewish state.
Then, for the first time, I wasn’t going as a member of the family, I was going as myself — a woman, a mother, and a businesswoman. I went, not for my husband or my in-laws, but for me. Seeing Israel through the Momentum lens had me hooked and I became a madricha (guide) in 2022 and 2024. In 2023, I participated in the Momentum Fellowship for Jewish women leaders in Orlando as well as in San Jose in 2024.
After the October 7 attacks, the Momentum values I internalized during those trips compelled me to spring into action in the best way I knew how. That day, my daughter, who lives in Tel Aviv, was home in Los Angeles for Sukkot. She told me about her friends that are lone soldiers in Israel, many of whom were being deployed, and were worried about staying connected with their families.
As the gravity of those attacks on Israel came into focus, I realized if I really wanted to enact change, I couldn’t do it alone. As such, I turned to my Momentum sisters, a network of Jewish women I built deep connections with over the years, many of whom I met during the organization’s flagship trip to Israel.
Using WhatsApp, I rallied more than 100 Momentum sisters in Los Angeles and across the U.S. Within hours, they raised $10,000 to purchase 500 portable phone chargers for Israeli soldiers. I shared photos and thank-you videos from soldiers receiving the donations, inspiring even more contributions. When my husband decided to return to Israel to assist, on October 9th, we sent four suitcases of supplies with him to deliver to various army bases with donations from Momentum sisters.
During his two-week absence, I felt numb. Yet the grassroots community we had built, and the work being done for Israel kept me going. These strong and resourceful women all showed me that it’s not all or nothing: You do what you can. I did, and I’m grateful it worked, but it’s really a testament to the power of community, resilience, and our collective unwavering support for Israel. Our efforts are proof that it’s not about how much you give; it’s that you give with love and with meaning.
On a personal level, as the owner of an online Jewish jewelry store, www.alefbet.com, I quickly leveraged my platform, directing 100% of the proceeds from select items to United Hatzalah, Zaka, and to individual hostage families. These acts of giving were instinctive because of this network of women who want to establish a cycle of generosity both within their communities and beyond.
On a local level, these experiences also inspired me to launch “Meet Me Where You’re At,” a Jewish women’s group in Los Angeles, with a fellow Momentum participant. While most social events in the Jewish community revolve around philanthropy — which expect participants to donate significant sums of money — this group is based on learning, socializing, and tzedakah.
The group is designed to be inclusive, welcoming women regardless of their level of religious observance. If you’re very religious or you’re just beginning to explore Judaism, this is the place for you.
What began as a small community has grown to include more than 250 women who connect through WhatsApp and attend events like a Sukkot gathering, nutrition seminar, Passover art workshop, makeup lessons and more, which are all tied to a Jewish theme.
This thriving group is a testament to the power of Momentum where every experience with them allowed me to build a fresh set of skills. Being a madricha taught me leadership skills, and then, taking part in the Momentum Fellowship taught me how to mobilize my community.
I was recently in Israel again, on another Momentum trip, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the resilience of the Israeli people. Back home, we see the horror in the news and that Israel is in the midst of an existential crisis. Yes, it is fighting a multifront war. Yes, that is harrowing, and people are stressed and nervous about what the future holds.
But I also saw people refusing to let that dampen their spirits. I saw people having leisurely strolls on the beach, I saw pensioners casually sipping coffee on a crisp fall day, I saw children playing in the streets. I saw, quite clearly, the people of Israel live — Am Israel Chai.
I’ll continue to help Israel in any way I can, because if Momentum taught me anything it is that if you change one life, you change the world. But I’m so grateful that we as a community are working so hard to help people who love life very much and enjoy every minute of it — despite the challenges they face every day. And that, in turn, helps our community become a more giving space where, we too, are enriched by our connection to Israel and each other.
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Alisa Haroush is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles.