REALITIES THAT ALSO BUILD ISRAEL

By Mati Perlov, Machon LeMadrichim participant – Tikkun Olam by CADENA program

This week, I experienced one of those days you don’t forget. As part of the Tikkun Olam by CADENA program within Machon LeMadrichim, we visited the south of Tel Aviv to better understand a reality that we sometimes hear about, but rarely get to know in depth.

We walked through Neve Sha’anan, an area shaped by the presence of thousands of migrant people and asylum seekers who have come to Israel looking for safety and a second chance. Walking its streets was eye-opening: shops with imported goods, restaurants filled with unfamiliar aromas and colorful facades, signs in Tigrinya and Arabic, and a strong sense of community life that persists despite many challenges. I also understood that not everything is perfect in Israel; alongside its remarkable resilience, the country faces deep social challenges that require commitment and a critical perspective.

The most meaningful moment of the day was hearing from Anwar Suleiman, a refugee from Sudan. He spoke about his escape and the fear and uncertainty he suffered, but also about the resilience and dignity with which he is trying to rebuild his life in Israel. Hearing him firsthand changed my personal perspective: it stopped being “the issue of migration” and became stories with names, faces, and families.

I learned that behind every statistic there is a human story. That social complexity cannot be understood from a distance. And that, as future madrichim, our role is not only to educate, but to shape others with sensitivity, empathy, and responsibility.

That day, I understood that true Tikkun Olam begins when we are willing to listen.