In the wake of Hamas’ devastating attacks, Emma Pavlovic felt called to go Israel, despite not knowing much about the land.

“All I was sure of was that Israelis needed love and I wanted to go love them,” Emma said.

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I have always been an advocate for making connections with those of different cultures and I had a strong desire to travel to the Holy Land and learn about the people, the food, the music, the language.”

In Israel, Emma was deeply impacted by understanding the roots of her Christian faith as well as the geopolitical landscape. She described visiting Kibbutz Kfar Aza as one of the most impactful moments of her trip.

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“To see how close some of [the kibbutz] are to Gaza & to walk the streets that used to be so lively before Hamas attacked them was incredibly impactful, she said. “It was heartbreaking to see, but now it is super sweet in a personal way to see some of them being rebuilt & populated.”

For Emma, she didn’t leave what she learned in Israel behind. She soaked up everything she learned and applied it to her life including the practice of Shabbat.

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“In Israel everyone stops and delights in the creator who designed a seventh day for resting - while American culture deems hurry and productivity more important,” Emma said. “Practicing sabbath in America is hard but so worth it, and I’m really thankful I got to experience that firsthand in Israel!”

After her trip, Emma became plugged into Passages Hubs, a community of Passages alumni and friends growing as leaders, reconnecting with their faith, and supporting their local Jewish community. She has played a key role in spearheading a new Passages Hub in Arizona!

“It’s been a gift to stay connected to Passages and take action in my community, creating space for christian allies to befriend Jews,” she said.

Through Passages Hubs, Emma has facilitated interfaith Shabbat dinners and created intentional spaces where Jews and Christians can talk about their differences, similarities, and what it looks like to fight antisemitism.

“I’ll never grow tired of seeing Jews feel seen & loved when Christians show up to support,” Emma said.

Through taking a humble learning posture and showing Christ-like love, Emma has taken what she learned in Israel to make an impact on her own community.

“My life has been forever changed by the relationships I have with Jewish friends. They make me better and it makes what's happening in Israel and all around the world so much more personal to me,” Emma said.