“My life is all the more richer because of that first trip in 2019.”
From his job at the New York Public Library to forming connections with Jewish neighbors in Manhattan to powerful experiences at the Gaza border, Passages alumni Daniel Anger continues to be impacted by his Passages experience.
Anger first went to Israel with Passages in 2019 and later returned to Israel five times after his first trip. He even stayed for three months through the Galilea Fellowship program, an immersive program intended to strengthen Jewish-Christian relations and Christians understanding of the land.
“Whether it involves using Hebrew in my workplace at the library, finding a new love of Arabic and Armenian manuscripts, building friendships through events at nearby synagogues or attending a neighborhood Passover Seder, my life is all the more richer because of that first trip in 2019,” he said.
Anger’s time in Israel has had a significant impact on the way he reads the Bible and understands his Christian faith.
“Every time I read the Bible, my mind’s eye is full of the Holy Land. Every parable, psalm or place name is imbued with a richness of having walked in the land where so much of the Gospel took place,” Anger said.
Throughout his trips to the Holy Land, Anger has been inspired by fellowshipping with local Christians and traveling pilgrims. These moments have strengthened and inspired his faith.
“I cherish encounters with Aramaic worship songs in Jish, French nuns hosting feasts on Valentine’s Day in Nazareth, hospitality and hummus lavished on me in Bethlehem, conversations about Jesus with believers from every corner of the globe,” Anger said.
Through interacting with Christians in Israel, he maintains an eternal perspective. While Anger has had various opportunities to pray, worship, and converse with Christians from around the world in Israel, he longs for their second reunion in Heaven.
In January 2024, Anger had the opportunity to go to Israel on a solidarity mission just three months after the beginning of Israel’s war with Hamas. He later returned in July 2024 to serve as a Trip Fellow for the first new student buses since October 7.
During his two most recent trips with Passages, the streets of Israel were much emptier and tourist sights nearly abandoned. Through two unique trips to the Holy Land, Anger maintained an eternal perspective as he honored the importance of bearing witness in Israel after the October 7th attacks.
He described visiting Israel during the war as a “heavy privilege,” reminding him of Galatians 6:2 which commands us to ‘bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.’
During Anger’s first trip to Israel, he met Amit Wachs, a resident of Nativ Haasara who was murdered by Hamas on October 7th while defending his community.
Amit spoke to Passages groups are the realities of life on the Gaza border and his desire for peace between Israel and Gaza. In the wake of such tragedy, Anger hopes to advocate for peace just like Amit did.
“Returning to where Amit had taken me before the war, hearing of his heroism in his last moments and seeing where he fell was both a deep grief and a great privilege,” Anger said. It is my duty to remember Amit’s hopes for reconciliation with his Palestinian neighbors and to continue to strive for the flourishing of all who call Abraham their father –Jews, Christians and Muslims– in the Holy Land.”
Through visiting Israel after October 7th and leading new students through the experience of bearing witness, Anger has grown in his faith and leadership skills as he continues to stay involved with Passages. His heart for Israel and all peoples of the land is evident through his heart for learning, understanding the scriptures, and connecting with locals throughout the Holy Land.
Meeting Amit during his first trip to Israel had a profound impact on Anger. Today, he desires to advocate for peace throughout Israel just like Amit did.
