Julia Brandsdorfer, who made aliyah last August, says she feels safer living in Israel than she did in the United States. Growing up in Montgomery County, she said she faced a lot of antisemitism. Brandsdorfer attended a public school with her younger sister who also played softball and said the antisemitism worsened after graduating. Her sister faced “passive-aggressive” antisemitic comments while on the softball team, Brandsdorfer said, despite making varsity. After Oct. 7, despite Israel being at war, Brandsdorfer said she felt more than ever like she wanted to be in Israel.