By Rabbi Chanan Gans

This past summer, our Diller Teen Fellows cohort was preparing for the trip of a lifetime: Israel. For most Fellows, it’s the pinnacle of the year—the moment when the learning, the relationships, and the leadership journey come together in the homeland.

But as the conflict with Iran escalated, uncertainty grew. We held out hope until the very last moment that the trip would still be possible. When the cancellation finally came, it was heartbreaking. Months of anticipation and planning were suddenly gone, and we faced a hard reality: how do we reimagine the most meaningful part of the Diller experience—without Israel?

After sitting with that disappointment, our staff quickly pivoted. We asked ourselves: What is at the core of the Israel trip? Beyond the land itself, what are Fellows truly yearning for? The answer was clear: connection. The chance to meet peers from other communities, to experience cultural diversity, and to discover the unity that emerges when Jewish teens from different places come together.

With that in mind, we leaned into the theme of connection and reached out to other Diller communities. Thanks to the vision of Carlos Domacasse, the openness of the LA and San Francisco cohorts, and the incredible quick thinking and leadership of LA Coordinator Arya Donay and LA Supervisor Ari Cohen, a brand-new trip to Los Angeles was born.

And what unfolded was nothing short of extraordinary.

A Coordinator’s Perspective

Arya Donay, the LA Diller Coordinator, shared how he approached the pivot:

“After a quick grieving period about not being able to go to Israel—while also holding many mixed emotions as a Persian-American who had made Aliyah and served in the IDF—I felt a swirl of disappointment and worry. My first thought was whether Fellows would lose interest in the program and whether the glue that was holding the group together might start to come undone. At the same time, I knew Ari and I were capable of pulling something off, even if it wasn’t what we had originally envisioned. Once I got over the initial shock, that challenge genuinely excited me. It became an opportunity to reimagine what the summer experience could be, even outside of Israel or Spain.”

When Baltimore was invited to join, Arya recalls:

“I was thrilled. From the very beginning, I wanted to bring as many cohorts and Fellows together as possible. To me, the strength of Diller has always been about connections—between peers, between communities, and between ideas. The possibility of Baltimore joining felt like a gift: a chance to deepen the experience, enhance the energy, and make the program feel closer to the scale and spirit of a true Diller summer.”

For Arya, navigating unexpected change required balance and intentionality:

“The first step for me is always giving myself permission to grieve. I had been so excited to take the cohort to Israel, especially after all the heaviness we’ve been carrying since October 7th, and I needed to sit with that disappointment before moving forward. Meditation and music are the tools I turn to most often. Both allow me to clear my mind and create space for creativity and new ideas to emerge.”

Fellows’ Reflections

While staff worked to reimagine the summer, Fellows themselves were processing the shift in plans. For many, the news hit hard.

Hannah Kesten shared:

“I wasn’t too thrilled because I was excited to go to Israel for the first time ever. I had also planned a lot of my summer around Israel so I was scared that I wouldn’t go anywhere for the summer, but more importantly I was scared about Lihi and the rest of the Ashkelon Fellows’ wellbeing.”

But when she heard about the pivot to LA, her feelings shifted:

“I was really excited to go to LA because I had never been to California before so it would still be a new experience for me! Also, I had never met anyone from California so I was excited to see how our cultures would blend and clash. Though I was still upset that I didn’t get to see the Ashkelon Fellows again.”

Looking back, Hannah felt transformed:

“Everyone had a great time and I don’t regret choosing Diller at all! I had so much fun and met so many new people that are so amazing! The trip completely changed how I view myself and others for the better so I’m very grateful.”

Fellow Jordan Klatsky echoed the mix of emotions:

“I was disappointed, as I had been looking forward to traveling to Israel (I had never been before) with my cohort and meeting all of the other 31 cohorts as well.”

But when the LA trip was announced, he said:

“I was excited that we would still be going on a trip, grateful that our leaders were able to put something together so quickly, and curious about how it would go.”

And in reflection:

“I really enjoyed the trip, I was able to really bond with the kids in my cohort while also making new connections with other cohorts, all while participating in fun activities and exploring LA.”

More Than a Pivot

In the end, what could have felt like a loss became an opportunity. The LA trip was not Israel—but it carried the essence of what makes Diller so impactful: shared experiences, deep connection, and the joy of building bridges across difference.

As Arya put it, the pivot became “an opportunity to reimagine what the summer experience could be.” And in doing so, the Fellows discovered a lesson they’ll carry with them long after the program: sometimes, the unexpected path leads to the most profound growth.

✨ At 4Front, we’re inspired every day by the resilience of our teens and the creativity of our partners. This summer reminded us that even when plans change, purpose remains—and with intention, community, and a little bit of courage, we can always pivot toward something meaningful.