Undergraduate student Sam Ward ’24 spent the fall of 2023 semester studying at Jerusalem University College in Israel. Here is a peek into his experience abroad at the beginning of and during the country’s civil unrest.
The morning of Oct. 7 started off relatively normal. It was Shabbat — Jewish Sabbath —and I was planning on attending the local Messianic congregation a few hours later. I was lying in bed, absentmindedly scrolling my phone, when I heard a low drone sound across the city. It started quietly before gradually increasing in volume till 
it reached a crescendo. Excitedly, I wondered if this could be a rocket siren. As if on cue, loud booms erupted above my room that seemed to shake the entire stone structure of the school. I could hear shouts as people rushed past my door, running for safety. Hastily, I grabbed my Bible and phone and sprinted out of the room, heading towards the predetermined safe room.
The entirety of the college — about 30 people in all — gathered in the basement. We spent time singing worship songs, praying, and checking the news as the country around us descended into chaos. What we assumed to be a relatively routine rocket attack from the neighboring terrorist-controlled Gaza quickly became one of the most devastating days in Israel’s history. Thousands of terrorists had filtered through the border fence that morning and slaughtered 1,300 Israeli civilians who lived in border communities. It was the highest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. We were a mere 50 miles away from the carnage.
The country reeled. The school which had become my home over the previous month found itself in crisis. As the situation stabilized over the next few days, many students left for their home countries. I wrestled with what to do. On the one hand, the campus remained safe, built right next to Jerusalem’s historic Old City. Despite the fact that we could make out the flash of
explosions on the night horizon, Jerusalem’s quiet streets conveyed a sense of peacefulness. However, I struggled to justify studying in a country where every young man and woman my age were gathered on the frontline giving their lives for their country. I brought this concern to one of the school’s Israeli professors. His response was deeply touching.
“You know,” he said, “Israelis are a strong people. These things have happened to us before and each time we must pick up the pieces and continue. Not everyone is able to fight; some of us must just carry on with normal life through the pain. When we do this, we show the world our strength. We’d be honored if you joined us in this.”
With that, it was settled. I would stay. What followed was some of the most difficult yet rewarding months of my life. I was able to build relationships with the faculty and staff that I’m sure will last a lifetime. Despite the war, we were able to travel across the country, becoming intimately acquainted with the land of Jesus. At no time was I surer that I had made the right decision to stay than when three of us students lay on a beach by the Sea of Galilee. The setting sun was casting deep pink hues across the lake. The water was almost surreally still, and we could make out the sound of wolves howling nearby. It was hard to believe that a devastating war was being waged only a few hours away. What wasn’t hard to believe — what I could almost picture in my mind’s eye — was Jesus sitting upon this beach with his disciples 2,000 years ago.
Whenever I read references to Mount Zion in Scripture, I smile. Jerusalem University College is perched right atop Mount Zion, surrounded by the towering walls and minarets of Jerusalem’s Old City. The location is truly superb. Whenever my mind wearied from my studies, I would head off campus and explore the city. Places such as the Western Wall, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Mount of Olives were mere minutes away by foot. In the classroom we were able to study the land and the people who shaped the Bible narrative. It was deeply impactful to be able to frame the issues of scripture in a real place. Jerusalem University College will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a privilege beyond words to become intimately acquainted with the land of Jesus and sobering to watch as that land faced immense difficulty with strength. I look forward to the day I return.
Sam Ward ‘24
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
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Get the latest from Geneva College Bible Professor and Bible Core Coordinator C. Scott Shidemantle, PhD, who is serving in a Visiting Professor appointment at Jerusalem University College (JUC) in Israel for the spring 2022 semester. Dr. Shidemantle is living and teaching JUC students in Jerusalem in his course, “The Historical Geography of the Gospels.”
Get the latest from Geneva College Bible Professor and Bible Core Coordinator C. Scott Shidemantle, PhD, who is serving in a Visiting Professor appointment at Jerusalem University College (JUC) in Israel for the spring 2022 semester. Dr. Shidemantle is living and teaching JUC students in Jerusalem in his course, “The Historical Geography of the Gospels.”
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