It’s been six months since Yarden and Uri came to Cincinnati as our Chaverim M'Israel, our "Friends from Israel", to share stories and bring Israel closer. We caught up with them recently and asked them to reflect on their time spent in Cincinnati so far.

The day the hostages were released, Yarden helped write a poem for the community gathering held at the Mayerson JCC. “It was very meaningful to read it in front of the whole community,” she recounted, “but the most amazing part was seeing everyone together, hugging, smiling, crying, through the best and hardest times.”

For Yarden, that moment captured everything she’s come to understand about Jewish life here: a community that shows up and holds one another in difficult times.

“I did not know what to expect coming here about the Jewish community,” Uri told us, “but all I see is kind people, caring and doing amazing things, always with new ideas. It turned this year around for me, knowing people care and actually want to listen to what Yarden and I have to say.”

Uri left his family farm on the top of a mountain in Israel to be with us in Cincinnati.

From teaching about Israeli nature, songs, dances, and holidays to sharing games invented in Israel, like the fun fact that “Guess Who?” was created there! Uri makes learning about Israel interactive and fun for the kids in our community.

Uri has fully immersed himself in Jewish life here, from ice skating with teens to celebrating Havdalah under the stars. He has even traveled across the U.S., from Cleveland to NYC, learning and sharing wherever he goes.

We are so grateful to have Yarden and Uri with us for six more months, sharing their energy, ideas, and love for Israel with our community.