MOMentum Final Wrap Up

Sunday May 25

Could this really be our last day together? How did this week go so quickly? It has been empowering as a woman, as a mother and as a Jew. It has been comforting as a woman, as a mother and as a Jew. How will we explain all of this to our friends and family upon our return?

This morning there were three options … Dead Sea float, a visit to Shalva or a little sleep in. Two went to the deadsea, 8 went to Shalva and one took the opportunity to rest. I can speak to the Shalva visit. Shalva is a world renowned facility that services children and families with physical and intellectual disabilities. With state of the art amenities and programs, they offer daily programs for moms and babies, after school programs, as well as respite care that give families a night with no worries. We were met by the facility co-founder, one of our women’s cousin from Vancouver. He thanked us for coming, albeit a short visit. We watched a video of their work and made our way around the facility with a guide. The care and compassion and the research that goes into the programs they provide is another reason to be proud of Israel, of Jews and the work that they do. Shalva serves Jewish and Arab families and do not discriminate. We ended our visit in the cafe, a cafe that employs those with disabilitiies.

We headed back to the hotel, proud of what we just witnessed. We loaded the bus, checked out one last time and headed to our closing session and closing event. We ended how we started, with music, with dancing, with energy and with pride of who we are. The difference was that when we started we were just getting to know each other and we ended, just a short week later, connected and family. To know that we are part of this greater collective, the Momentum women all around the world is a feeling of security. We explored values of Unity without Uniformity, Courage, Human Dignity, faithfulness & Trust, Generosity, Peace and Wholeness in the Home and Gratitude. Values we all carry, but needed to be awoken so that we can continue this individual and community journey of growth at home.

— Fauna Grill