From Taglit-Birthright trips to Federation-sponsored missions, Philadelphians of all walks of life journeyed to the Jewish state this year. Click here for a slideshow of their photos.

Two months ago, the strategy for victory was clear: To unseat Benjamin Netanyahu on Jan. 22, Israel’s handful of center-left parties had to unite under one banner and choose a leader who could challenge the Israeli prime minister on issues of diplomacy and security. Instead, the opposite has happened. Netanyahu’s opponents have become more fragmented, and the center-left has focused...