For most Texans, even Jewish Texans, the impact of the war between Israel and Hamas has not been felt directly. But it's different for 18-year-old Rebecca Katz, of Tyler.
The Legacy High School senior was participating in the Heller High School semester program, and was in Israel when Hamas' attack began on October 7. Katz joined KRLD's John Liddle to describe the fear and confusion that gripped her and her fellow students as rockets rained down on Israel.
"We went to Jerusalem to celebrate Simchat Torah, which is a really amazing holiday in the Jewish calendar," Katz recalled. "But then we were woken up by sirens and had to start running to the bomb shelter. We weren't really sure what was going on.
"As news and social media updates began to filter through, they realized the severity of the situation. "There were infiltrations and everything," Katz remarked. The rockets fired by Hamas could reach Jerusalem, leaving the students anxious for their safety.
Katz says they had to retreat to the bomb shelter a total of seven times. The Heller High School program made the difficult decision to bring the students home early due to safety concerns. Katz admitted that the news came as a surprise.
"We did not expect to be sent home. We didn't understand the severity of how long the conflict would last," she explained. However, she acknowledged that ensuring the students' safety and mental well-being prompted the decision."
Even though I'm not an Israeli, and I was just coming there to experience the amazing culture that Israel offers, it was very personal," she shared. "Our teachers, our mentors, they all have family and friends. Some were even called up to service."
Returning home wasn't without its challenges. With flights from Israel to the United States fully booked, the students had to navigate multiple layovers and endure a nerve-wracking moment when a bomb siren sounded just before their departure from the Tel Aviv airport. Katz and her classmates eventually made it home, but the journey was a reminder of the turmoil they had left behind.
As an intern for the organization "Stand With Us," which provides unbiased and factual information about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Katz emphasized the importance of understanding the nuances surrounding the situation.
"Especially in America, there's a lot of misconceptions and misinformation that spreads," she stressed. "There are many good resources out there, so you don't really have an excuse for misinformation."Katz also acknowledged the prevalent rise in online anti-Semitism and urged individuals to seek accurate information.
"It would really help people understand the complexity to just reach out and talk to people who experienced it," she said.
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