JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory, urging people to avoid traveling to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza due to concerns about terrorism, civil unrest, and armed conflict.
The fighting continues between Israel and Iran overseas, and this week, the State Department is warning travelers not to visit that part of the world.
Locally, the Jewish Community Alliance, in partnership with multiple Jewish organizations in Jacksonville, was set to travel to Israel as part of the Myron Flagler Israel Learning Seminar. Staff from those organizations have the opportunity to apply to be part of the program, regardless of their religious affiliation.
Adam Chaskin, CEO of the Jewish Community Alliance, said, “It is a yearlong study that culminates in a trip to Israel. This group started studying in January 2024 and initially intended to go in December 2024. However, due to the violence occurring in Israel at that time, we postponed to a June date. Then, less than 12 hours before we were scheduled to fly out, the current situation erupted, and it was not safe for us to travel.”
The JCA’s trip to Israel was canceled just a few days before the travel advisory was issued. The trip serves as an educational opportunity for Jewish organizations in Jacksonville, allowing their professionals to learn more about Israel and the Middle East.
Chaskin added, “By spending the year studying, going back thousands of years, and certainly to modern history and the forming of Israel to today, we’re giving people that foundation. Culminating with the trip to Israel allows people to live and experience what they’ve been studying for the year, and it really sinks in a very significant way for them.”
He shared how the group was feeling following the news of the canceled trip.
“On one hand, very disappointed, and also, on another hand, very relieved of the timing that everything happened, that we were able to stay home and were not already over there,” he said.
While there’s no way to know when the fighting overseas will end, Chaskin is hopeful they can still take the trip safely at a later date.
“I’ve been fortunate to have been to Israel a few times, and it’s an incredible country to experience—the food, the people, the physical beauty of being on the Mediterranean, not to mention the very rich history in that part of the world. I’m very much looking forward to getting back and having people who have never been to Israel experience it with me,” he said.
We also checked in with Jewish organizations on the University of North Florida’s campus to see if any of their trips were affected. UNF Hillel reported that they had one Israel trip that had already gone and returned safely.
