Photo and story by Ivan Saul Cutler

This morning a delegation from Greensboro's Jewish Federation embarked upon an intense week's journey to Israel.

Rabbi Fred Guttman provided a contextual-historical send-off blessing, declaring the mission participants represent the hopes, dreams, and wishes of all Jews, past, present, and future in traveling to and from Israel in peace.

Many in the group will visit Israel for the first time, others returning after many years.

The Chandler family — Marilyn, Robert, and daughter Shira Chandler — are traveling together, with Shira remaining in Israel for a gap year of work and study.