I Went to Israel Anti-Israel… Then Everything Changed

With a very anti-Israel perspective, Anna Beth Havenar never expected her first trip to Israel to completely challenge everything she thought she knew.In this powerful and honest conversation, Anna Beth shares her journey from viewing Israel through a one-sided lens to discovering a much more complex, human, and deeply spiritual reality after spending years living, studying, and traveling throughout Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, and Egypt.We talk about:✨ What surprised her most when she first arrived in Israel✨ The complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict✨ Why social media oversimplifies the Middle East✨ The rise of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment✨ Palestinian Christians and life in the West Bank✨ The importance of humility, empathy, and listening to real stories✨ The Jewish roots of the Christian faith✨ Why understanding Hebrew brings Scripture to life in a whole new wayAnna Beth also shares how she began teaching Biblical Hebrew through Hebrew Haven and why so many Christians are hungry to better understand the Jewish context of the Bible.This conversation is not about choosing sides politically. It’s about seeking truth, understanding history, hearing human stories, and learning to hold difficult realities with wisdom, humility, and compassion — while ultimately connecting more deeply to the Bible, its context, and the heart of God.Because when we better understand the land, the people, the history, and the complexity surrounding Israel and the Middle East, Scripture comes alive in a much deeper and more meaningful way.At the center of all of this is Jesus — and the invitation to approach difficult conversations with humility, wisdom, compassion, and truth.If you’re Jewish, Christian, both, neither, or simply searching — you belong here. 💛⸻📚 Learn more about Anna Beth / Hebrew Haven:Hebrew Haven⸻🎙️ Welcome to The Bridge PodcastHosted by Joyce DorianThe Bridge exists to bring understanding, compassion, and healing to the disconnect between Jews and Christians through honest conversations, education, history, and personal stories.