The recent escalation of violence in Israel has left many students and families grappling with the emotional toll, particularly those who find themselves far from home. For some, the experience of social isolation while studying abroad has been exacerbated by the tragic events unfolding in their home country.
A Divided Family, Separated by Distance
Jonathan Jaffe, 56, and ReCheng Tsang, 57, live in Tel Aviv but also split time between the U.S. and Israel. Their children, Knoa Tsang Jaffe, 23, and Avi Tsang Jaffe, 20, have found themselves scattered across the globe—Knoa living in San Francisco and Avi studying in Edinburgh, Scotland. As the violence in Israel escalated in October 2023, this family found themselves even more divided, physically and emotionally, as they tried to navigate the fear, grief, and uncertainty brought on by the war.
For Avi, studying at university in Scotland provided an escape, but the horrors of the situation in Israel followed him across the globe. He was deeply affected by the violence, yet he had to manage his emotions alone. Social isolation became a pressing challenge as his peers in Edinburgh struggled to understand the complexities of the conflict and the deep personal toll it had on him. Despite the physical distance from his family, Avi felt the weight of the events and was left to process them in solitude.
A Therapist’s Call to Serve
In Tel Aviv, the situation was no less painful for ReCheng Tsang. As a therapist, she had always been dedicated to spreading light and optimism in her community. But after the attacks on October 7, she felt compelled to take action beyond her regular duties. ReCheng, like many others, volunteered to serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reserves, hoping to contribute in a way that aligned with her values and professional background. The decision to leave behind her therapeutic practice and enlist in the reserves was one driven by the desire to be part of the larger effort to heal and protect her country.
In her own way, she was also fighting against the social isolation that war brings—not just to soldiers on the front lines, but to those whose lives are disrupted in every corner of the world. For ReCheng, volunteering allowed her to channel her grief into service and remain close to her community, even as her family faced the ongoing challenge of being apart.
The Struggle of Being So Far From Home
For students like Avi, the physical distance from family has been compounded by the emotional disconnect. It is one thing to read about a war in the news or hear about it on social media, but it is another to feel it in the very core of your being—especially when you are thousands of miles away from your home and loved ones. The isolation felt by many students abroad is often overlooked, but for those caught in such a situation, it can be deeply challenging.
Avi, for example, felt both the grief of not being able to support his family in Israel and the pressure of managing his studies amidst the chaos. Socializing with peers in Scotland proved difficult as they struggled to comprehend the depth of the situation, and the language barrier of explaining such trauma was overwhelming. Social isolation, even in a bustling city like Edinburgh, became an unwelcome constant.
A Family’s Efforts to Stay Connected
Despite the distance, the Tsang Jaffe family has worked hard to remain connected. Though they may be separated by continents, the family maintains communication as best as they can, leaning on technology to bridge the physical gap. For Avi, receiving messages of support from his parents, while not the same as being together, provided a sense of grounding during the tumultuous weeks.
However, the emotional toll on this family, like so many others, is hard to quantify. Families scattered across the world, with their members struggling with different emotional burdens, are dealing with a complex and profound isolation that cannot easily be understood or alleviated. Each member of the family faces the conflict from a different angle—whether as a soldier, a student, or a family member trying to hold everything together from afar.
A Shared Hope for Healing
Despite the hardship, there remains hope in the Tsang Jaffe family’s journey. ReCheng’s decision to volunteer, the family’s dedication to staying in touch, and Avi’s resilience all point toward a desire to heal and rebuild, even amidst the chaos. Their shared story is a reminder of the emotional resilience needed in times of crisis and the importance of support networks, even when distance keeps loved ones apart.
As the family continues to navigate this turbulent period, they are not alone in their struggle. Thousands of families worldwide are facing similar challenges, finding ways to support each other and themselves through the difficult times.
