In most visitors, Alaska inspires wonder at its beauty, awe at its wildlife, and admiration for the hardiness of those who make their lives in its vast backcountry, enduring some of the harshest conditions on earth.
Alaska
Alaska: A journey of environmental resilience with lessons for Israel
In August 2024, my wife, Adi, our two boys, Lavie, eight, and Eitam, five, and I embarked on a year-long emissary mission called Bedein – Agents of Hope, grounded in our commitment to environmental resilience and societal healing. This journey began in Alaska, a state known for its untamed beauty and vast wilderness.
Through our travels, we sought to explore not only the majestic landscapes but also models of resilience that could inspire change in Israel, where the scars of war deepen daily. The places we visited offered more than environmental lessons – they provided insights into how nature can serve as a powerful tool for healing communities affected by trauma.
The Jewish community in Anchorage and Palmer: Spiritual anchor
One of the most uplifting moments during our time in Alaska was spending our first Shabbat at the Chabad Jewish Center in Anchorage. This center, one of the last places on Earth to bring in Shabbat, provided a singular opportunity to connect with the local Jewish community and Jewish visitors from around the world.
Shabbat lunch brought together more than 60 guests, where Adi and I shared our personal and professional journeys. Adi spoke about the strength of love and altruism, drawing from the Holocaust to demonstrate how these values shape our understanding of humanity. I, in turn, shared my experiences as a war photographer in Sderot and environmental activist, discussing the urgent need for resilience in both nature and society.
Together, we emphasized the power of positivity and resilience in overcoming personal and collective struggles.
Mission of resilience and recovery
Our time in Alaska was centered on learning how conservation efforts can promote both environmental and societal resilience, offering us valuable lessons to bring back to Israel.
At the Alaska SeaLife Center, we witnessed the rehabilitation of marine life, experiencing the emotional release of two seal pups back into the wild – a profound moment that underscored the healing power of nature. At the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, the preservation of Ice Age species like the musk ox illustrated the importance of protecting ancient ecosystems and the interconnectedness of nature and community.
Our journey also led us to Elisheva Garvey, owner of the Lighthouse Resort in Homer, whose deep connection to Israel and passion for environmental healing stood out. Her research into the therapeutic power of nature aligns with our own mission to develop spaces of healing for those affected by trauma.
Finally, our visit to the Stewart Family Resort in Glacier View was the highlight of our trip. It was there, surrounded by Alaska’s majestic wilderness, that we began envisioning a collaboration to create a therapeutic retreat for Israeli veterans and victims of trauma – using nature as the foundation for recovery and resilience.
Alaska’s social landscape: Conservative stronghold with unique native story
Politically, Alaska leans conservative, with around 60% of its population voting Republican in recent elections. It was the last state to join the Union, along with Hawaii in 1959. Before its purchase by the United States in 1867, Alaska was part of Russia; but long before that, it was home to various indigenous peoples for thousands of years.
Beneath this political landscape lies a complex social fabric, especially in relation to its Native communities. Throughout our journey, we met many Alaskans who had married into Native families, reflecting a rare story of successful integration.
One of our hosts, a fisherman from the Aleutian Islands, embodied this blend of Native tradition and modern American life. He was a skilled fisherman and a country music performer in Alaska and Florida. His story surprised me, as Alaska is one of the few US states where the Native population has largely assimilated into society.
However, not all Native communities in Alaska share this success story. Sarah Stewart, our host at Glacier View, shared a much grimmer reality. She grew up among Alaska’s indigenous communities and spent nearly 30 years living with them. When I asked if she remained in touch with friends from the Native reserves, her answer was haunting: “No, none of them are alive. They all committed suicide over the years.”
This stark reality mirrors the larger statistics – suicide rates among Alaska Natives are 40% higher than the national average. The isolation, poverty, and substance abuse that plague many Native communities leave deep scars.
This conversation resonated deeply with us, as it paralleled the mental health crisis in Israel. Alaska’s Native communities and Israel’s war-affected populations may differ in their specifics, but both are in dire need of healing. Nature, with its capacity to inspire recovery, is a common thread we hope to explore further in developing therapeutic programs for Israel’s mentally injured – a growing community as the conflict continues.
The real Alaska: Self-sufficiency and rugged individualism
Alaska’s identity is shaped not just by its politics but also by a deep sense of self-reliance.
A true Alaskan is someone who always has moose or bear meat in his cooler. Hunting isn’t just a tradition – it’s a necessity.
Unlike industrialized hunting, Alaska’s practices are sustainable, regulated to ensure that hunting remains a personal, not commercial, endeavor. This approach to self-sufficiency is a model of environmental respect that could serve as an example for the modern world.
However, not all of our experiences were serene. On our first day in Palmer, we encountered hate graffiti reading “FREE PALESTINE” scrawled on a small pedestrian bridge. The shock was immediate. After 32 hours of travel, the echoes of the conflict we hoped to momentarily escape had followed us even to this remote corner of Alaska. It was a stark reminder that Israel’s struggles reverberate globally.
Oct. 7 brought another painful reminder when Christian pastors in Anchorage and Homer, proudly displaying Israeli flags, were met with gunfire and forced to take the flags down. While these incidents are isolated, they underscore the deep political tensions that can surface in even the most distant places.
Veterans, Israel, and deep respect for the military
Alaska has a profound respect for military veterans deeply woven into its culture. This respect goes beyond the standard priority boarding on flights, which is common across the US; here, veterans are honored with special discounts at attractions, including national parks and state fairs. This visible appreciation reflects Alaska’s commitment to recognizing and supporting its veterans meaningfully, underscoring the deep-rooted honor for those who have served.
During the state fair, witnessing the respect shown for the national anthem and prayers for missing American soldiers was truly moving. The heartfelt participation of Alaskans created a profound sense of solidarity, bringing to mind Israel’s soldiers who continue to stand on the front lines, as well as the hostages suffering in Gaza. Standing together in these moments, I felt a deep connection between our struggles and shared resilience.
Alaska’s Christian community, with over 40,000 members in Christians United for Israel (CUFI), offers steadfast support for Israel – a bond that transcends politics and geography, built on shared values and an enduring commitment to mutual solidarity.
Lessons for Israel: Nature as a healing tool
Our journey through Alaska was more than just an exploration of conservation; it was a discovery of how nature can serve as a platform for healing and resilience.
Alaska’s vast, untamed landscapes showed us the power of nature to restore both the environment and the human spirit. As we continue our travels through Canada and British Columbia, we carry with us the knowledge that these wild, remote places hold the potential to serve as sanctuaries for Israel’s mentally injured – those suffering from the ongoing war.
In Israel, nature could play a similar role. The Dead Sea Revival Project, which I’ve led for seven years, demonstrates how Israel’s own natural wonders, such as the Dead Sea, can become platforms for healing.
Just as Alaska’s wilderness offers hope, Israel’s landscapes – from the Dead Sea to its water sources – can inspire resilience and recovery in a nation that desperately needs it. ■
The writer is founder and director of the Dead Sea Revival Project, leading efforts for seven years to promote eco-tourism, MENA water diplomacy, and innovative methods of conservation through sustainable travel across the globe.
The Environment and Climate Change portal is produced in cooperation with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Jerusalem Post maintains all editorial decisions related to the content.
Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) approval of a permit to facilitate construction of a life-saving road between the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska and nearby Cold Bay. The one-lane gravel connector will provide reliable transportation access from King Cove to Cold Bay, which is home to an all-weather airport.
“This is more good news for King Cove and all who care about the health, safety, and wellbeing of the hundreds of people who live there,” Murkowski said.“After decades of relentlessly making the case and pushing with everything we have, this life-saving road is finally almost a reality. A combination of careful analysis and common sense from the Trump administration—the Department of the Interior and now the Army Corps—have brought us to this point. I thank them for their continued commitment to protecting and improving these Alaskans’ lives.”
“For Alaskans, the decades-long King Cove Road impasse has been a symbol of an uncaring, out-of-touch, faraway federal government that prioritizes the lives of birds over people,” said Sullivan. “The great residents of King Cove time and again have kept hope alive, despite setbacks, most recently when the Biden administration disregarded the voices of the community and withdrew the previously approved land exchange. The permit issued by the Corps of Engineers today is vindication for King Cove, putting us closer than ever before to delivering a lifesaving, 11-mile, single-lane gravel road to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay. I want to thank the Administration, especially Secretary Burgum and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Telle, for listening to Alaskans, for caring about their safety and well-being, and for putting us on the cusp of a historic breakthrough for safe and reliable access for King Cove.”
“This permit approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a critical milestone in a decades-long effort to provide the people of King Cove with the infrastructure they need to build an essential life-saving road,” said Begich. “For nearly 50 years, the community has advocated for a road connecting King Cove to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay. This project addresses an obvious public safety need and will provide a reliable route for emergency access in adverse weather conditions. I commend everyone who helped move this project forward, from residents who never stopped advocating, to Secretary Burgum, the Army Corps of Engineers, Governor Dunleavy, and Alaska’s congressional delegation over many years.”
King Cove is located between two volcanic peaks near the end of the Alaska Peninsula, and its small gravel airstrip is typically closed by bad weather for more than 100 days each year. Many flights not canceled are delayed by wind, turbulence, fog, rain, or snow squalls; travel by boat is often impacted by waves that can top 12 feet and the lack of suitable dock infrastructure in Cold Bay. By comparison, Cold Bay, which is less than 30 miles from King Cove, has one of the longest runways in the state and it is closed an average of just 10 days per year.
At present, there are roads leading out of both King Cove and Cold Bay but no connection between them. The lack of dependable transportation access to Cold Bay routinely forces emergency medevacs from King Cove that risk the lives of patients and responders alike. It also creates significant quality-of-life issues, ranging from King Cove residents’ inability to regularly receive mail to week-long travel delays for students returning home from various activities.
King Cove residents have sought this life-saving connector road for decades. In late 2025, a major breakthrough occurred when the Trump administration conveyed490 federal acres to the King Cove Corporation in exchange for 1,739 acres of KCC-owned land near the Kinzarof Lagoon and the relinquishment of selection rights to more than 5,430 acres still owed to KCC under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
The Corps permit issued this week is valid for five years and allows for dredge and fill activities to occur on just over five acres of land. For perspective, the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge spans 315,000 acres and there are at least 130 million acres of wetlands across Alaska.
More information is available here.
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Alaska
An Alaska vacation can remind Israelis the world doesn’t revolve around them | The Jerusalem Post
For Israelis, it can also inspire humility. Not because the Jewish state is smaller than Denali National Park, but because in Alaska, one is reminded that the world neither revolves around Israel nor is obsessed with it.
That realization came on a trip The Wife and I took to America’s Last Frontier last month.
“Where is your final destination today?” the woman checking us in for our flight home at the Anchorage airport asked chirpily.
“Tel Aviv,” I replied. “Where’s that?”
When I said it was in Israel, she smiled and said, “Oh.”
Lest one think this was just a fluke: on the plane a few hours later, another Alaskan asked where we were going. When we answered “Tel Aviv,” she said she had never heard of it.
Granted, two people do not a Pew Poll make, but they do offer a small corrective to the perception – fed by the media most of us follow – that the world is preoccupied with Israel, thinking about us obsessively, talking about us constantly, and cursing us unremittingly.
The last part, at least in Alaska, is also not true. During our two weeks there, we saw no “Free Palestine” graffiti, nor were we subjected to dirty looks or “child killer” comments when we said we were from Israel.
All of America, it turns out, is not Mamdani’s Manhattan, nor does social media present a proportionate picture of that country’s reality.
One of the problems with social media is that every incident of antisemitism is posted online. The incidents are real and rising at an alarming rate, but seeing them all in one place creates a disproportionate sense of how likely you are to encounter them while traveling.
Watch enough clips of a Jewish kid harassed on a New York subway or an Israeli couple berated at a hotel in California, and you begin to wonder whether the same thing awaits you when you ride an American subway or check into a hotel.
It doesn’t. Yet the cumulative effect is that you begin to wonder how open to be about your Israeliness. You don’t decide to hide it, but simply having to ask the question adds a mini-layer of apprehension before every trip.
When Israel comes along for the ride
You also learn to read the Uber.
“Honey,” I urged The Wife before we got into an Uber in Chicago during a brief layover, “you don’t have to say you’re from Israel.”
“Nonsense,” she said. “I’m not going to hide who I am.”
“Wonderful sentiment,” I replied. “The driver’s name is Rabah. Humor me.”
We didn’t volunteer our place of origin, nor did he ask.
But on the entire trip, that was the only time we consciously withheld that nugget of biographical information. Everywhere else, we proudly said we were from Israel – and it was fine. More than fine: it was often a conversation starter.
On a whale-watching excursion, we sat across from a young couple from China who work at Google. They were intrigued that we lived in Israel, and even more fascinated that we passed on the chicken sandwiches being served.
Instead of looking for sea creatures, The Wife spent a good part of the trip explaining why some of the fish in the sea we can eat and others we can’t.
“Honey,” I whispered at one point, a bit annoyed. “We didn’t pay all this money for you to give an introductory lecture on kashrut. Look for the damn puffins.”
Since October 7, another layer has been added to the anxiety of travel: whether your flight will be canceled at the drop of a ballistic missile.
One doesn’t just hop over to Alaska on a whim; it takes planning and a special occasion to justify the expense. For us, it was 40 years of wedded bliss, so we booked back in October after being warned that rental cars sell out months in advance.
We chose United. But just days after the war with Iran broke out, United – typically – canceled flights until mid-June, four days after our planned departure. We acted quickly – well, The Wife acted quickly – and switched to El Al. Still, it complicated the trip further.
Then came the more serious question: Do you leave the country when one of your sons or your son-in-law is in miluim in Lebanon, Gaza, or Syria?
My first instinct was no: you don’t leave when one of your children is serving. That may have worked before Oct. 7, when reserve duty meant a few weeks a year and could be planned around.
But today, when they have each logged upward of 350 days, saying you won’t leave while they are serving essentially means that you won’t leave at all.
Which, by the way, is hardly the end of the world. But what can I say? I like to travel.
So we went, even though as we were watching bears and sea otters, my youngest son was dodging drones in Lebanon.
“Go,” he said. “What are you going to be able to do by being here? And if, God forbid, something happens, you’ll come back.”
“That’s not the point,” I said. “How can we enjoy it if we are worrying about you?”
“You’ll figure out a way,” he teased.
And he was right. Sure, we worried, but less than if we were here. Distance, it turns out, has its advantages. I wasn’t glued to the news, tracking every development on his front.
Perhaps that was Alaska’s greatest gift. Not the calving glaciers, surfacing whales, or foraging bears, magnificent though they were. It was the realization that while Israel is the center of our world, it is not the center of everyone else’s. Every now and then, regaining that perspective is refreshing. ■
I’m typically pretty wordy. But just watch the video.
Disclaimer: Matt Addington is a professional. These bears grazed toward him from 100 yards away while he held tight. Do not try this ever, under any circumstances, or you will likely spend the rest of your time on this earth as bear poop.
Matt Addington is an incredible professional photographer, and I can say that from personal experience. He’s captured images of me in rough shape and somehow made them stunnin’. The Minnesota-based photographer and filmmaker has built a career telling outdoor stories, and his latest bear video proves he knows exactly where to point a camera.
Places like Katmai National Park in Alaska (where this video was taken) can offer unusually close encounters with brown bears, thanks in part to abundant food and tightly managed visitor access. That doesn’t make encounters like this casual or safe to imitate.
Addington is an extremely experienced outdoorsman, and he was photographing with professional guides Scott and Jackie Stone. For people hoping to photograph bears this way, a guided wildlife photography tour is one of the safest ways to do it. Do not try this in Yellowstone or your local national forest.
The bears were grazing nearly 100 yards away when the group set up. They stayed put as the animals continued feeding and gradually moved closer, resulting in some incredible footage and a once-in-a-lifetime photo.
I can only hope he wore his brown pants under his waders.
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