Birthright, Just Do It.

“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.