“The vision of Taglit-Birthright
Israel is to strengthen Jewish identity, Jewish communities and solidarity with
Israel by providing a 10-day trip to Israel for young Jewish people.” -Taglit-Birthright
Birthright
is an important rite of passage for ALL Jewish people! Religious journeys are personal experiences;
individuals on the Birthright trip will have their own connection and reaction
to Israel. This trip will help define
how you feel about your our cultural and Jewish identify; however, you don’t
have to be religious to appreciate Israel. Birthright is not only a learning
experience; it’s also a way to connect to your background and Jewish traditions
in a social way. The beauty of the Land
is unforgettable and will keep you in awe though-out your time in Israel. The Birthright trip will connect each person
in a different way to their Jewish heritage.
Growing
up in a multi-religious household, I always felt a bit removed from both my
Jewish and Christian roots. As a young
person I was curious and interested in the spiritual and cultural experience of
different religions, but never felt a real connection to any. After being approached to participate in
Birthright, I was worried that I wouldn't be "Jewish" enough for the
trip. Despite my initial misgivings, the
trip to Israel changed my life as I know it.
Birthright changed my idea of what being Jewish is; it changed my ideas
of Israel. It brought to life the
connections that I have to my Jewish background.
Israel
is rooted in culture and history.
Believe it or not, there is no such thing as being "Jewish"
enough in Israel. The Birthright trip
taught me that the Jewish culture takes all kinds of forms, from the hip young
Jewish crowd, to the devoted followers, and everything in between. I quickly learned that many Israeli Jews are
actually more connected to the culture than the religion, similar to my own
views of Judaism.
Birthright
connects you to other young people like yourself. There is no doubt that Israel is a
magnificent country, but one of the best parts of the trip was surrounding
myself with other young Jewish people just like me. We all came with different things to share,
some were more religious than others, some were well read, some knew Hebrew
fluently, and some were just cultural Jews wanting to learn more about our
history and traditions. I believe that
friendships made and bonds developed on the trip will last a lifetime. Five years later, I still keep up with the
friends I met on the trip.
The
Beauty of Israel kept me in awe the entire trip! The sunrise hike atop Masada was beyond
breathtaking, and it might have been one of the most spiritual encounters I
have ever had. It is a climb that begins
as dusk so one can experience the sunrise as the top of the mountain. It’s a morning full of strong emotions;
everyone is blessed to see Israel is such a raw and true form. Learning about the Bedouins and being honored
to spend an evening with them was eye-opening and magical. Their way of life is humbling to all those
“Westernized” folks. And the food they
served us was amazing. The days we spent
in Jerusalem’s Old City and the by the Western Wall can't fully be described in
words. The women and men divided at the
Wall was a through back and hard for some modern people to understand. The outpour of raw emotion was a surreal
experience. I would be amiss if I didn't
mention how amazing the food was. Food
is what makes the world go round, it's a beautiful thing to sit down with
groups of people from all walks of life and enjoy a meal together.
Birthright
is an important rite of passage for all Jewish people. It's an experience you will never
forget. Anyone and everyone will come
home from Israel a changed person. No,
you may not want to join a Conservative synagogue and learn Hebrew, but that's
not the point of the trip. The point of
the trip is to learn more about your Jewish roots. It is to come home feeling a sense of
connection to the holy land; to feel renewed and excited about being Jewish. Thanks to Birthright, my life is forever
changed in the most positive way. Being
Jewish is a personal journey that was only enhanced by my Birthright Israel
trip.
