THE EXPECTATION

10 DAYS. 40 NEW FRIENDS. A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.

“When I first set foot in Israel, I knew it was going to be a life-changing trip. I was trying to find clues of who I was, trying to find answers to the many questions I had about my culture and myself.

All those answers came, while my fellow travelers and I climbed mountains that seemed insurmountable, walked deserts and explored ancient and spiritual cities. I realized as time passed that our Birthright Israel trip was a metaphor of what we have had to endure since we became a people. The big difference is that this journey was meant to bring us closer together, closer to our religion and to show us that we do have a land we can stand on. Israel is a utopia that many generations of our Jewish ancestors never thought could become true. While I was there, I was aware of that, with my eyes, my heart and my mind.

My most cherished moment was at Independence Hall in Tel Aviv. A picture provoked it. In it you can see a group of Jewish men and women standing in a desert, surrounded by dunes. That was the first picture of Tel Aviv, nothing more than sand. Why this picture? It demonstrates the courage and the strength that our people have. We have endured more challenges than most groups in the world, and we are still alive and prosperous. We believe in the ability to make change happen, in places where it seems unimaginable. We transformed that arid land into a flourishing city.

The United States is the third country I’ve lived in. It is the one of the few in the world where being Jewish is widely accepted. Knowing the privilege that we Jewish Americans have, I made it my task to try to help my companions understand the importance of having a Jewish state. We all came from different walks of life. Some had never left their small towns; others had traveled the world and lived in metropolises. This trip gave us food for our minds, a safety network, acceptance and knowledge. It also allowed us to create life-lasting bonds with our Israeli counterparts. I will forever be thankful for that.

Birthright Israel is essential for future generations. It shows us young people that there is a place to go. It gave me a new sense of hope, knowing that I could make it my life goal to help people achieve peace and acceptance.

When I first set foot in Israel I was a young man expecting an exciting and life-changing trip. When I left I felt like an adult who finally had a home. ” -PABLO BIEN, SUMMER 2016