By the time this is published, more than 600 FZY chanichim will be waking up in Israel. Sixteen buses. The largest Israel Tour in FZY’s history. Even writing those words feels surreal. Just a few months ago, I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to write them.

There were moments over the past few months when this summer looked impossible. Commercial airlines had largely suspended their services. The war with Iran transformed daily life across Israel. Missiles became part of the news cycle and, for those of us living here, part of everyday life. Every few days seemed to bring another question that had no easy answer. Would airlines be flying? Would insurance be available? Would the security situation allow educational programmes to continue? Would families still have the confidence to send their children?

There were times when it would have been easier to stop planning. To press pause. To wait until there was certainty. But leadership rarely has the luxury of certainty. It requires something else. It requires values.

From the outset, we committed ourselves to a small number of clear principles. We would only run Israel Tour if it was safe to do so, based on the professional security advice we rely upon. If those conditions were not met, we would not come. But equally, if they were met, we would not........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)