itrek Leader Spotlight: Bar Peled, Harvard 2018

The itrek Team

February 14, 2020

Our itrek leaders are from some of the best MBA, Law, Policy, and STEM programs around the world. Each of the leaders has a passion for Israel that they want to share with their peers. We’re talking with some alumni leaders to learn how itrek made an impact on them, how they stay connected with friends from the trip, and where their path has taken them.

Name: Bar Peled

Age: 32

School: Harvard Kennedy School 2018

Current Location: Boston

Job: Consultant at the Boston Consulting Group

Date of itrek: March 2017 & March 2018

Why did you want to lead an itrek?

The Harvard Kennedy School is naturally a very political place with people who care deeply about current events, and Israel is a hot topic on campus. During my first week at school, I met other Israelis who told me about the trek. It was clear to me right away that I wanted to shape this experience for my friends and my classmates who were traveling to Israel and share my passion and point of view with them.

What were the core elements you felt should be included in the trip? Was there something particular from your studies?

The way we designed the trek on both years I led allowed us to show everything Israel has to offer. I wanted my classmates to see the best: the most beautiful places, best restaurants, inspiring speakers, and Israeli politicians who are trying to make a change. We also wanted to show the things that are more challenging and they hear about often in the news, so we took them to Ramallah as well as the settlements and made sure they had a chance to meet with local leaders, ask bold questions and form an opinion based on personal experience. Showing them Israel through our eyes was a very personal experience.

Once we showed them both the amazing and challenging elements, we were able to have hard conversations, and the good things they saw didn’t just disappear after they heard something bad because they understood the complexity. We had credibility, and that was the main principle. As a result, my classmates left Israel being able to have intelligent conversations and even challenge misconceptions about Israel, and many of them are still engaged with Israel.

"I learned that when you show them the whole picture, you earn a real ally, and that’s the difference between itrek and other tour experiences."

What was something you felt was a must-see for your fellow students?

We met MK Stav Shaffir, who is what I want more of our politicians to look like. Though Stav is quite young, people were struck by how charismatic, progressive, and honest she was as soon as she started speaking. She got a standing ovation from the group. She’s a very important voice to showcase and has much in common with other young politicians from activist backgrounds globally.

Our trek was very much designed as a geopolitical tour. We met politicians in Palestine. We visited the Syrian and Gaza borders. We went to these places to hear from activists about the issues that are top of mind.

I also invested a lot of time in coordinating speakers and telling them about our group and what would interest them most. You have to think about all of these angles and where the information is coming from so that students on the trek feel that everything ties together.

What was your favorite part of the trip?

My first time leading itrek, I had a friend from school who was truly scared to visit Israel. When we opened registration (it filled up in less than a minute), I encouraged her to apply and said we would have another conversation after she had gotten a spot. So she was very concerned but eventually decided to come. When we got there, you could see her amazement and perception changing in real-time, to the point of being blown away by Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem and really, just everything. It was a full 180. She understood that Israel is a very complicated place, but it was all information she had never heard before, and it sparked a deep connection. She started learning Hebrew and later had an internship in Israel.

What is something unique about itrek?

itrek’s uniqueness lies in the authenticity of the trips. They are created and designed mostly by Israelis who attend the participating schools. We bring our perspective into every element of the experience and design the treks to be tailored to the audience, which is made up of our peers and friends. Since each leader comes from a different background and has a different point of view on topics covered during the trek, the result is a rich mosaic of speakers, places, and flavors.

How are you involved with itrek and/or Israel today?

I had a goal of staying in touch with itrek after graduation, and it plays out in two main ways. First, within the Harvard Kennedy School, I’m working to make sure that the knowledge and founding principles of how we designed the trek each year are passed along from one leadership team to the next. I’m also part of the itrek Network, which involves thinking strategically about what should be the ongoing relationship between past itrek participants and leaders, and also hosting some Boston-based itrek events.

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