Amid the continuing conflict in Israel, Passages canceled a student trip planned for May.
Paul Rahe, professor of history and a trip organizer, said there is no way to ensure the safety of students with the current situation.
“Israel is a small place. Rockets are being fired by Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis,” Rahe said. “The students will be in danger when they drive or are driven to and from the airport in this country, and there will be risks in Israel – greater than in the past.”
The trip is sponsored by the Philos Project and the Museum of the Bible Foundation. Since 2015, Passages trips have taken hundreds of Hillsdale College students to Israel, visiting sites such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and the Sea of Galilee.
This is not the first time the trip has been canceled because of the war. A planned trip in December was canceled.
The May trip to Israel, which was first advertised to students last week, offered a discounted ticket and more spots. Passages replaced the May trip with opportunities for students to travel to Washington, D.C.
“This summer, Passages will also be offering educational and advocacy experiences that take place in Washington, D.C., a bit closer to home,” a statement from Passages read. “These three-day experiences will feature exclusive access to the Museum of the Bible, offer participants the opportunity to delve into updated context on the conflict in Israel, and tour the Holocaust Memorial Museum.”
Senior Fernando Bravo said that even though the trip is canceled, he hopes all Hillsdale students remember how important it is to support Israel.
“It is important to support our brothers and sisters in Israel as we are bonded to each other through our Hebraic roots,” Bravo said. “Israel has always been a light to the world from biblical times, so as Christians, it is important that we always seek the wellbeing of its people.”
Passages is also planning to offer trips to Israel for those hoping to serve.
“With advocacy for the challenges being faced by Israel in mind, Passages will host a few solidarity and service-centric trips to Israel,” Passages said in a statement. “These will not follow the traditional Passages itinerary, but they will be centered around community service, giving back to the most severely affected citizens of the Jewish state, and advocacy efforts that will leave an impact long after your return to the United States.”
Passages said in a statement that the security of students is critical and the trip is postponed “until we can guarantee that you will receive the traditional Passages experience.”
It is unclear how long that might be.
Since the war broke out on Oct. 7, at least 30,000 Palestinians and Israelis have died, according to the BBC. According to the Wall Street Journal, six Americans are among the 130 hostages still held captive in Gaza.
Rahe said he thinks Israel will continue to fight until Hamas is gone.
“The Israelis seem to have things in hand. I do not mean that the war is over. That may take some time,” Rahe said. “But the Israelis seem intent on wiping out Hamas no matter the cost, and I suspect that they will succeed. Their efforts may set off a larger war, but I doubt that they will.”
