Chicago Men on a Mission 

It all started in 2003 during the Intifada, when few American Jews felt safe enough to visit Israel. Numbers of tourists were down and missions just weren’t filling up. It was then that a group of 13 men from the Jewish Federation of Chicago decided to do something about it – they got on a plane and came to Israel and the first ever Chicago Nachshon mission was born. They returned just nine months later with 33 men, and watched as their spontaneous initiative quickly turned into a new Jewish tradition.

Named for the biblical figure Nachshon ben-Aminadav – who according to tradition dared to jump into the Red Sea before it was miraculously split, thus inspiring the people of Israel to follow him – the mission is in its seventh year and is over 150 strong and growing.

“The basic idea is for a group of Jewish men from Chicago to come together in Israel to be reenergized and to then return and work even harder in our home community for Jews in Israel and around the world,” explained Jeff Kopin, one of the original Nachshoners, who was in Israel for this year’s mission from March 2nd to March 8th.

Yearly, the mission is also geared towards the interests and philanthropic focuses of the men involved, which means an emphasis on in-depth national security updates, tours of centers of industry and social service programs that teach entrepreneurship. 

At this year’s visit to ISCAR, a full line supplier of precision carbide metal working tools in the Tefen Industral Park, the participants had the opportunity for a close-up interaction with Israeli industry, an experience which got a thumbs-up from participant Mike Zaransky. Zaransky also mentioned the briefing at the Rosh HaNikra Naval Base as a mission highlight.

For Larry Dobkin an added benefit of the trip was the opportunity to view the collective effects of donor dollars on the Israeli scene. He praised the JDC Nirim Schunot program, established by elite IDF officers, and helping youth-at-risk to thrive through intense land and sea sports, survival challenges and remedial educational help. During a day trip to Sderot, the group also toured various JAFI programs, including newly rebuilt homes which benefited from immediate SOS fund assistance after rocket attacks.

The aftermath of Operation Cast Lead was one of the mission’s many themes. To that end, Dobkin noted a session on Brand Israel given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as particularly helpful for the participants, many of whom see themselves as ambassadors for Israel in the US.

Of course, no mission with so many male participants would be complete without sports, and the itinerary included opportunities for hearing about the state of Israeli athletics and taking part in a number of physical activities.

According to Jay Prystowsky, its all part of the Nachson experience. “There is just a certain kind of bonding (not to be cliché) that happens with this group of men. It’s about friendship," he explained.

“As one guy here put it recently, ‘you recharge your batteries’ so you are ready to go back and keep up your work for the community,” said Prystowsky.