RAUL CAMPILLO
AJC SAN DIEGO IN ISRAEL
In August, AJC San Diego led a delegation of local elected officials and Jewish community leaders on an AJC Project Interchange trip to Israel for a week of immersive learning, dialogue, and connection. The trip was designed to deepen delegate understanding of Israel’ s complexities, strengthen relationships, and inspire thoughtful leadership rooted in firsthand experience.
San Diego elected officials who joined the delegation, from left to right: Councilmember Raul Campillo( San Diego District 7), Senator Brian Jones( California 38th Senate District), Vice Mayor Lauren Cazares( La Mesa), Trustee Dr. Debra Schade( Solana Beach School District Board of Education).
Delegates explored religious diversity, border security, and long-term strategic engagement as they stood on the Syrian border, interfaced with Druze, Christian, Arab Israeli, and Palestinian leaders, and visited sacred religious sites.
Sha’ ar HaNegev, San Diego’ s sister community for the past 27 years. Delegates toured Kibbutz Kfar Aza, visited the Nova Music Festival site, and heard from a panel of educators working with youth across the region.
I chose to visit Israel with AJC Project Interchange because I believe leaders have a responsibility to see the world, especially the most difficult parts, with their own eyes. With all things, but especially with the Middle East, we must learn not from headlines, but from human experience.
RAUL CAMPILLO
SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND AJC SAN DIEGO PROJECT INTERCHANGE ALUMNI