Israel. One word. Enough said. That is, if you have been to Israel, and walked the path of Abraham, Moses and David Ben-Gurion.
For Jewish teens living in America today, “Israel is like this place that I’m told to have a deep connection with.” It’s hard to understand the deep history that is read about in the Torah.
But after landing in Israel and breathing the saltwater in Tel Aviv, feeling the cold touch of the Western Wall, and eating the warm, crunchy falafel, a forever connection to Israel is created. Israel is that friend who will always be there for you, no matter what you are going through.
Kyle Nowak, Denver Jewish Day School senior, was one of 100 students on BBYO’s International Leadership Seminar in Israel (ILSI). He enjoyed the Western Wall but found other attractions in Jerusalem had a greater impact on him.
“The Western Wall was an experience that was good for me but I wouldn’t say I had the same momentous experience as other teens,” says Nowak.
Rather, he found the Hezekiah water tunnel tour to be a great experience, in part because of the history. “With the tunnels, I had to crunch down to get through it. You know that [our ancestors] walked directly through this path at one point. This is the exact spot they stood,” Nowak says.
Jenni Greenwald, Cherry Creek graduate and now at Sarah Lawrence University, traveled to Israel as a participant on the Free Spirit Birthright trip with 40 people, mainly from the east coast. Among her favorite cities were Tiberias, Safed, and Jerusalem.
In contrast to Nowak, Greenwald found the Wall to be “inexplicable.”
“Jerusalem is just Jerusalem. It is such a spiritual city and it was breathtaking to be there. We got to go to the Western Wall on Friday night, which was probably the coolest experience in my life,” reveals Greenwald.
Away from the city, in the middle of the desert, is where Arin Simon, Smoky Hill senior and Israel Study Tour (IST) participant, felt like she was really in the Jewish homeland.
“I was expecting to feel at home when I stepped off the airplane” because of family members’ experiences in Israel. However, “I felt like I was glad to be in Israel but it was more of a vacation feeling. At the top of the first peak in the Negev, I felt at home,” says Simon. A week, into the trip, she had her “ah ha” moment.
One of the great aspects of traveling to Israel with an organized trip is getting to spend time with Israelis, soaking in the different culture. All three teens stayed in a Bedouin tent, dressed like the Bedouins, and rode camels and donkeys.
They also experienced the country by rafting and kayaking down the Jordan River, hiking in the Golan Heights and camping in the Negev.
All across the country, there are many kibbutzim; IST frequently stayed on them. Simon enjoyed her time on Kibbutz Ketura.
“It is a well-balanced community. They know almost everyone. We went to Shabbat services with them and they have some of the same silly rituals that we do in youth group. It was cool, that even from thousands of miles away, we were all connected,” says Simon.
The more touristy spots, like Yad Vashem and Mount Herzl, were also visited.
Nowak says, “It was a very difficult day for everyone on the trip. When you walk through the cemetery at Mount Herzl and you see the gravestones, it’s unlikely to find a name over 30. It’s astounding how many people give their lives for the country.
“I’ve considered joining the army since sophomore year. The trip opened up how life would be [in the army].”
To help put into perspective what Israelis endure in the army, a third of the IST participants, including Simon, partook in Gadna, a four day IDF intensive experience.
“Day three was as if we were actually in the army. The bulk of the day was [spent] in the field.
“We learned how to walk, crawl and we even carried around sticks as if they were guns.
“Our commander had us put mud on our faces for camouflage to teach us that we could not ever be seen. When the staff came to take pictures of us, we smiled, which exposed our teeth, so she instructed us to put mud in our teeth, which was an experience on its own,” she explains.
On the last day, they shot M16 rifles.
“Shooting was basically the highlight of the week, and it was a great experience to learn about.
“We got to experience firsthand how the kids our age will be doing this for the next few years of their lives and just how impactful it will be to their futures,” Simon says.
While Simon has no intention to enter the army, the experience increased her respect level for soldiers.
After traveling to Israel, all three cannot wait to go back, whether that is via a gap year, study abroad or to make aliyah.
Furthermore, when they hear about Israel in the news, they feel more connected.
“My connection [to Israel] is now more tangible,”says Nowak. “Before, I had heard about different issues [going on] in Israel and I supported it. But it was almost like I was supporting the issues blindly. I didn’t really understand. Now after being in the country, I can relate to the issues that are going on more directly.”
Whether the time spent in Israel was 10 days, 21 days or 28 days, memories for a lifetime were created.
As Greenwald looked back on the trip, she realized that walking the path of the Torah helped increase her connection to Judaism in a new way.
“I went in to the trip being pretty observant, but the biggest thing for me that changed is my cultural appreciation for Judaism. I knew going in to Israel that everyone is Jewish but once I got there, it kind of shocked me again,” says Greenwald.
Israel.
“It’s like nothing you have ever seen.”
Copyright © 2013 by the Intermountain Jewish News
