BEACHWOOD, Ohio — October 7, 2023, started like any other morning in the idyllic Kibbutz Sufa community in Israel. Noa Hubara, 34, was home with her husband Ido and their young son. But their peace didn't last long.
"We woke up 6:30, I think, to the sirens," Noa said. "That's when my husband says, 'Listen, this is not something normal."
It was anything but normal. Their kibbutz, along with many others, was under attack. Without hesitation, Ido joined a civil squad to protect his community and family.
"They fought bravely for about six to seven hours until IDF power could come and rescue them," Noa said. "As time went by, the other members of the civil squad started writing messages and showing some proof of life that they're okay except for my husband. And only about 6:30 p.m. we got the message that he died."
But there was no time to grieve ... there hasn't been in nearly a year.
"Because I had three kids. I have three kids that I have to be strong for," Noa said.
Noa and Mika Becher are from the same kibbutz. They share trauma and sorrow and unending far for their home country. Still, they never want to give up.
"Our community manager tell us about this delegation. Actually, it's a mom's delegation. We're all moms. So we applied to this delegation and we were chosen to be here," Mika said.
Here, is at Congregation Mishkan Or in Beachwood, where the women were welcomed to spend the week building connections.
"I want to tell the Jewish around the world how Israel is important," Mika said. "And I want them to know that we are all together in this situation."
Rabbis Yael Dadoun and Joshua Caruso say the visit underscores the importance of open dialogue and education.
"We really believe that as much as there's a lot of pundits and political experts out there who could break down the situation in Israel and Gaza, that sometimes just to hear the personal stories from those who have been directly impacted can make a huge, huge difference," Caruso said.
"I think it's going to put a face to a story, which is what we are lacking in some ways as Americans on October 7th will be one year since the attacks happened in that area. And it's difficult to suffer the pain every single day unless it's really happening to you," Dadoun said.
The hope is for peace, something Noa's husband believed in until the very end.
"There are real people behind these stories, real families, real children," Mika said. 'We're just looking for a calm life."
"He fought and he was brave, and he knew that he's the one that has to go. You can't rely on other people. And yeah, he died. He lost his life. And yeah, he was a real person, a real good person who believed in peace and equality ... he didn't want to fight," Noa said.