Some Detractors, but Taxpayer Funds Not Used
“Our journey to Israel offered a meaningful chance to build connections — both with the people who live there, and with each other.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins led members of the Westchester County delegation on a study trip to Israel, to help better understand the complex issues effecting the region. The visit was Jenkins’s fourth trip to the country, and was designed to strengthen cultural understanding, explore opportunities for collaboration, and deepen connections between Westchester County and communities throughout Israel. The delegation met with Israeli leaders, community organizations and residents, gaining firsthand insight into the region’s history, religion, economy, and diverse cultural and social landscape.
Jenkins said: “I was honored to be asked to lead the Westchester delegation of elected and public officials on the study trip to Israel. Our journey to Israel offered a meaningful chance to build connections — both with the people who live there, and with each other. We now have a deeper understanding of the cultural, political and economic dynamics in the region, while also strengthening our relationships as colleagues committed to serving the people of Westchester. Experiences like this one help us to lead with greater awareness, compassion, and connection with others. To witness firsthand the work being done to find a way to co-exist in peace by the people experiencing it sends a powerful message of hope that can be carried back here in Westchester.”
The trip was sponsored by the Westchester Jewish Council, and included trips to key historical sites such as:
- Meetings with Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Adir Schwartz and members of the US Embassy
- A trip to Sderot to learn about the October 7 attack, and a visit to Tel Aviv to reflect on Israelis’ resilience in communities along the Gaza border
- A walking tour through Jerusalem’s Old City featuring Jewish, Christian and Muslim quarters
- A visit to the Max Rayne Yad B’Yad (Hand in Hand) K-12 Jerusalem School where Jewish and Muslim children learn in a bilingual Hebrew and Arabic program together
- A tour of Yad Vashem, Israel’s largest national memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust
Director of Intergovernmental Relations Steve Bass said: “This trip offered an invaluable opportunity to observe the complex, resilient and above all, inspiring experience of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities that make up the State of Israel. Hearing directly from local leaders and residents gave us a more grounded perspective on the challenges they navigate every day, and the solutions they are creating to integrate and live peacefully together. I am grateful for the chance to help strengthen ties with our closest international ally, and promote greater understanding about the special relationship between our country and Israel.”
Director of Policy and Programs for the Faith Community Crystal Collins said: “As a Black Christian woman visiting Israel, I am deeply moved by the rich tapestry of history and faith that intertwines in this land. This journey has opened my eyes to the unique challenges faced by the diverse communities coexisting in this vibrant country, especially amid ongoing conflict. I believe that through dialogue and understanding, we can build connections that honor both our differences and our shared humanity. I hope to share the insights I gained and continue engaging in meaningful conversations that advocate for peace.”
those who attended included
The Westchester Jewish Council, (WJC) who paid for the trip, posted,
“We have long believed that the best way to appreciate the beauty and complexity of Israel and the region is to travel there and experience the country firsthand. We are grateful to the bipartisan group of officials who have traveled with us to Israel to hear from a diverse selection of Israeli and Palestinian voices about the realities of living there and ongoing efforts to support coexistence between all peoples of the region.”
The debate on Facebook over the trip had supporters and detractors in the more than 645 comments, which included:
How does visiting Israel directly improve property taxes, school funding, housing, public safety, or county services in Westchester?
Instead of seeing this trip as a bridge or an opportunity to witness and understand for yourself, people on here are choosing to spread ignorance and cynicism…The Holocaust happened because evil was allowed to flourish, and that same hatred persists today… Visiting Israel is not about politics or handouts, it’s about understanding the complex realities of a region where history, culture, religion, and coexistence intersect.
I’m a Democrat, as well as a former district leader, and have campaigned for and voted for Ken Jenkins along the way. I am also Jewish. However, I am not an automatic rubber stamper of the actions of the Israeli government, and I am definitely not someone who feels comfortable with elected Democrats being flown around the globe on the dime of a religious organization. Why is this permissible or proper? What happened to the separation of “church” and state here in America? How is this any more kosher than evangelicals buying the favor of Republican electeds?
For all the people appalled by this trip, we just have to begin organizing like aipac is organizing, speaking out and donating money to candidates who support our views
Not a good look for Westchester County-especially for its Dems. There is no way you can spin this to make this trip look like it was the right, necessary and appropriate thing to do. And by advertising that this was the fourth junket for Ken Jenkins, you could not have made it sound worse.
This comment from Henry is how I feel. “I don’t have a problem with the trip as long as they paid their way and not tax payer funded.”
If some group wants to offer and pay for Westchester electeds to visit…..fill in the blank, it is up to each elected to decide, as long as taxpayer funds are not involved.
The trip was a bi-partisan affair, with Yorktown Supervisor Ed Lachterman, a republican, on board.
