The resilience of the people the Rev. Phi Zilinski met while in Israel during a ministerial mission last month was nothing short of impressive, the Carpentersville Police Department chaplain says.
“The mood is absolutely hopeful,” he said. “The people were amazingly hopeful. They are realistic and know there is a war, but they remain calm and hopeful.”
Zilinski, also a pastor at Fox Valley Baptist Church in East Dundee, spent seven days in the war-torn nation in late February, joined by 23 other ministers from across the United States in a trip organized by the International Conference of Police Chaplains, based in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The group stayed at a hotel in Jerusalem but ventured out to other locations, including to areas in Gaza and locations where the Hamas-led terrorist attacks of Oct. 7 took place.
One included piles of about 300 stacked vehicles that people had driven to a music festival and were severely damaged in the attacks, Zilinski said. He was told the story of one set of parents who came to see the car driven their son, who had been taken hostage, and found some beer inside.
“The dad took the beer. He said he wanted to have it with his son when his son returned home,” he said.
Another story that remains with him was from a woman they met at a public space near the Tel Aviv art museum, which has become known as Hostages Square. She told their group that two of her friends had been taken hostage, Zilinski said.
“She wrote to one of us that she hopes one day to send a picture of her with her friends when they come home,” he said.
When they were in an area about a half mile from where the initial attacks took place in Gaza, they could hear bombs in the distance. Their five escorts took it in stride, Zilinski said, but the ministers were a little unnerved.
Still, they didn’t feel unsafe as they traveled by bus throughout the country. Aside from the extra detail in the Gaza area, they were typically accompanied by just two former Israeli police officers, one who served as a guide.
The group toured the Knesset, and also met with the police commanders and chaplain rabbis from police departments all over Israel. While they didn’t speak to any Palestinians, they met police officers who were of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths, Zilinski said.
“Wherever we went, people would approach us and ask if we were from America,” he said. “When I would answer yes, they would thank me for being there and thank America for our support. We were very welcome.”
Other stops included Hebron, the Sea of Galilee, the Holocaust Museum and the Israel Police Museum.
“We also went to a Shabbat (Sabbath service) by the Western Wall and were amazed at the joy of the service,” Zilinski said.
Those who participated were primarily younger people, many of whom sang, danced and pulled the visiting ministers in to join them.
“The youth there really amazed me,” he said. “Seeing here in the U.S. that religion is primarily older folks, young people are still very integrated into the worship in Israel.”
The Israeli-Hamas war has been under way now for more than five months. In late February, The Associated Press reported that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 70,000 wounded in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials. About 250 people were abducted in the initial Oct. 7 attack and about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, AP reports said.
“They are still hoping for the return of the 141 still being held hostage. (Those we spoke to) are dedicated to minimizing civilian injuries and deaths,” Zilinski said. “In spite of the attacks on Oct. 7, the people go on and even celebrate the Sabbath with joy. Even the refugees that are living in hotels in Jerusalem keep going and living life.”
Israeli police officers injured in fighting go back to work and continue to serve, he said. The volunteers who gather the dead make sure everyone is buried with dignity.
“The resolve of the Israelis is incredible,” Zilinski said.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
