Eight young adult visitors from Ramat HaNegev recently spent a week in Colorado meeting people, enjoying the sights, visiting important locations, exploring the mountains, and engaging with local leaders. The trip is the first leg of a JEWISHcolorado Young Adult Division (YAD) exchange program that will send a cohort of Colorado young adults to Ramat HaNegev in May. JEWISHcolorado sat down with two of the visiting Israelis who shared their observations about the meaning of this trip.
Eyal Barshad
Eyal Barshad is 40 years old, and with his wife Noam he has four children, two daughters and two sons, all under the age of 11. He lives in Midreshet Ben-Gurion. Recently, he left his position at an American construction company to work for a nonprofit that helps developing communities in the periphery cities by initiating, supporting, and being a platform for different programs.
Colorado is amazing. I love the dry weather. Early this morning, I went out for a run, but my hands were freezing!
I became involved in the Young Adult Program two years ago. At the beginning, I saw it as an opportunity to come and visit the U.S., see Colorado, and meet the Jewish community. But it has become more meaningful than that.
Carmel (front row, center with striped shirt) and Eyal (directly behind Carmel) at the Colorado State Capitol
In Ramat HaNegev, we feel a strong connection to the Jewish community in Colorado. We hear about an entity called JEWISHcolorado and the support we receive, but I think nothing is better than people-to-people connections to understand why we care for each other. This goes beyond slogans—it’s human connections.
The strongest connection I feel here is with the couple that I am staying with, Leslie Stewart and Stu Senkfor. The first night we arrived in Colorado, we were 10 hours late because our plane was delayed, and they waited for us. From the first minute I met them, they made me feel at home. They made me feel like someone cared about me.
We have done so many different things on our visit. We had the chance to tour the Colorado State Capitol, and we met businesspeople which is another way to make connections between our countries. It was very interesting to go to Temple Emanuel and meet Rabbi Emily Hyatt. I realize that in your country you have choices of how you practice Judaism.
Carmel (front row, left) and Eyal (back row, second from right)
I really enjoyed going to a Nuggets game, but we lost—you see, I am already saying “we!” We got to meet the members of the Colorado Young Adult contingent who will be visiting Ramat HaNegev in May. We talked and laughed together because we have the same issues—children, work, and taxes.
I loved going to Red Rocks because the landscape is so different from what we have in Israel. It was also very interesting to talk with Michal Lev who teaches at the University of Denver and hear about antisemitism in day-to-day life and on university campuses. It made it clear to me how much Israel and the U.S. need each other. Even though there is an ocean between us, we are the same people—”Am Israel Chai.”
I feel like I will go home with stronger connections to Colorado. I have a better idea of the meaning of our relationship with JEWISHcolorado. JEWISHcolorado supports us in Ramat HaNegev, and we support Colorado. I like to call Israel a “safety net.” For Jews around the world, Israel will always be a home—a place where you can be a Jew without fear.
Carmel Magal
Carmel Magal is 42 years old and has three teenage children—a daughter and two sons. She lives in the religious moshav of Retamim, where she works as a social worker and beautician. In the future, she hopes to find a way to combine the two professions—beauty and mental health.
My family served as Shlichim in Rome from 2017-2020. The city and the people were so beautiful. We wanted to do the work because “Am Israel Chai” is so important to us. Life is too short. We wanted to have impact.
Carmel (front row, furthest right) and Eyal (back row, second from right)
I also participated in an exchange of young professionals in Miami. We traveled to Miami, and they came to Israel. I saw how important it was for both communities and how it impacted both communities. Because of my experience in Rome and in Miami, I realize that we are one Israel. We cannot separate. Each side has a lot to offer to the other side. For that reason, I wanted to make this trip to Colorado, my first time here.
I am a little dizzy with the altitude, but it is so beautiful here, and we met such welcoming people. My sons are a little jealous because I got to see my second NBA game. I saw the first one in Miami with Lebron James.
It was wonderful to go to the Golda Meir House Museum because she was such a bridge between communities around the world. In Ramat HaNegev, we have a strong connection with her because she lived in the Kibbutz Revivim in senior housing for a few years. I work with seniors there and most still remember her. We brought a special gift to the museum made by the seniors in Kibbutz Revivim—small metal yellow ribbons to help remember the hostages. Made by seniors in Israel, we hope they will be given to seniors in Colorado. It was a beautiful connection between two worlds.
Carmel (above the “V”) and Eyal (above the “L”)
David and Nancy Kaufman have been wonderful hosts. It’s so clear how much they love Israel. Even their children have been there!
From the perspective of a religious woman, it was eye-opening to visit Temple Emanuel. Rabbi Emily Hyatt is great, so impressive. I could connect to a lot of what she was saying. The Orthodox way is very different, but I can see beauty and truth in the way Temple Emanuel thinks.
When we come to Colorado, I think we bring with us the spirit of the Negev. The Negev draws special people, pioneers, much like the pioneers who settled Colorado. You develop perspective in the Negev because you must work hard to make things happen. This goes back to what Ben-Gurion said—we work to make the Negev come alive. Ramat HaNegev is not afraid to work hard and neither is Colorado
I have lived my life committed to making connections, and I hope to keep the connections with people I have met in Colorado. Also, I hope the people we met here feel welcome and comfortable when they come to Ramat HaNegev.
I dream that the children in Colorado know about Israel, that they know where Jerusalem is, where Tel Aviv is, and where Ramat HaNegev is. Those are the important places! And I hope that my children know that one of the most important places in the U.S. is Colorado so they can understand and appreciate the connection we have.