THE WAY HOME

Agam Berger whispered Shema Yisrael as terrorists stormed her shelter. In Hamas captivity, she fasted on Yom Kippur, not knowing when her next meal would come. She refused to eat chametz during Passover, even though pita was all she had. A prayer book she found in Gaza, "held me and protected me." Agam knows who she is. But thousands of young Jews her age don't. They are free physically, but emotionally and spiritually, they remain trapped in darkness. Before October 7th, they felt like they fit in. Now the ground has crumbled. THE DARKNESS IS REAL. • The massacre on Bondi Beach (Dec. 14, 2025) • Elderly beaten on the NY subway (Dec. 16, 2025) • Young Jews hated for being Jewish—even though in their minds, Judaism was never part of their identity. The darkness is so real… BUT SO IS THE LIGHT! Over 70,000 found it at Ascent last year. Birthright, JNF, and others send them by the busloads because they see what happens: young Jews discovering that their heritage isn't a burden—it's a gift. Jenna, a 17-year-old high school student from Washington, D.C., whose father works on Capitol Hill. She had never met an observant Jew, much less eaten a Shabbat meal in their home. At first, it was a bit overwhelming— singing, ceremonies, and foods she had never seen before. But as the evening progressed, surprisingly, she relaxed and even felt like part of the family. She enjoyed listening to the children recite what they had learned at school during the past week and even asked what it was like to have nine children—her parents had been overwhelmed by just two. By midnight, she didn't want to leave. "This is everything I hope my Jewish life will look like." Ori, a 21-year-old from Raanana received a Bible at his swearing-in but never opened it. After one session at Ascent, where he used stories from the Bible as a model of leadership, Ori changed his mind. Now he calls it "one of the most valuable gifts I've ever received." We expect 140,000 young Jews like Ori and Jenna in 2026. Our experiential programs are $9 more expensive per person than what groups can pay. This is the difference between a lecture likely to be forgotten and a transformative hands-on experience at Ascent of Tsfat. Many thousands of groups are waiting for their chance to come to Ascent, but it will only happen if you help now. You can show them THE WAY HOME. GENEROUS MATCHERS TRIPLE YOUR GIFT. BUT ONLY UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON DECEMBER 31st. Partner with Ascent to touch their souls and make a lasting impact. YOU CAN ETERNALLY CONNECT YOUNG JEWS LIKE ORI AND JENNA TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR PEOPLE. Please banish the darkness; they need you right now! Thank you