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"The strong feeling was let's keep encouraging people to go, but let them each decide for themselves," said Rabbi Evan Goodman of San Francisco Congregation Beth Israel-Judea, who spoke at the meeting.

According to local rabbis, as well as Sherman, enrollment for Israel experience trips is definitely down this year, even though greater security precautions will be in place.

The BJE usually sends an average of 150 teens to Israel each year. Current enrollment for this year's trip at the end of June is approximately 120.