BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION
Inspiration LETTERS OF 5780
OCTOBER 2019 ISSUE NO. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS 01
LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT: ISRAEL “IZZY” TAPOOHI
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BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRANSFORMING “JEWS BY BIRTH” TO “JEWS BY WORTH”: BY DR. ZOHAR RAVIV
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MY BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL STORY AND BECOMING A RABBI: THE LASTING IMPACT: RABBI LEVEY
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REFLECTIONS FROM RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS
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MY BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL EXPERIENCE: RABBI ELLIOT J. COSGROVE
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KOHELET’S LESSONS FOR A NEW YEAR: RABBI JESSICA ZIMMERMAN GRAF
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BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL: A MODERN DAY MIRACLE: RABBI DAVID-SETH KIRSHNER
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THIS NEW YEAR PLANT THE TREE OF LIFE: RABBI MOSHE E. SCHEINER
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REFLECTIONS FROM RABBI MICHAEL RESNICK
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MY BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL STORY IS STILL ALIVE, 13 YEARS LATER: BY RACHEL BARNEHAMA
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HOW I FOUND COMMUNITY ON A BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIP: BY EVE KARLIN
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APPLES, HONEY & POMEGRANATE CRUMB PIE: BY LINDSAY MORRISON
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18 PEOPLE WHO FOUND THEIR BESHERT ON BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL
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A LOOK BACK IN TIME: BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL 2000 - 2019 1
Dear Friends, The High Holidays are a special time for the Jewish people. Deep rooted in religious practices and tradition, these days are synonymous with community. It is during these holy days that the Jewish people unite together in many shapes and forms to welcome the New Year as one. As we sit in our respective synagogues, we can take great pleasure and pride in our community. We are a people with unmeasured strength, determination and dedication to our values, traditions and homeland. We are a people of promise, a people of passion, and we are a people that has a bright future. Look around your synagogues at the young families. The children laughing and staring at the Shofar in awe. If I were a betting man, I would say these families are sitting there with you as a result of Birthright Israel. While exploring their homeland and finding connection to their roots they found a sense of community and have chosen to be active members of the Jewish community, providing continuity for our people and our traditions. Thanks to support from friends like you, we have been able to provide the incredible gift of Birthright Israel to more than 700,000 young Jewish adults in the last 19 years. We are ensuring our children and grandchildren have bright futures and that our people and our homeland remain strong for generations to come. I am honored to come to work every day to further our mission to ensure that every eligible young Jewish adult around the world, especially the less connected, is given the opportunity to visit Israel on this educational journey. As we turn the page to 5780, I look forward to all that is ahead for the Jewish people. Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy and sweet new year! Shana Tova,
ISRAEL “IZZY� TAPOOHI President & CEO, Birthright Israel Foundation
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BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL: TRANSFORMING “JEWS BY BIRTH” TO “JEWS BY WORTH” As we enter this year’s High Holidays season, I am delighted to share a few thoughts with you all --- our extended Birthright Israel family. It’s hard to believe, but Birthright Israel embarks on celebrating two decades of operation; and while we are surely gratified by this project’s unprecedented achievements on behalf of world Jewry and the State of Israel, we already try to imagine the next 20 years and the envisioned trajectory of our young Jewish adults in the contemporary world. As we reflect on Birthright Israel’s evolution these past twenty years --- and with over 700,000 worldwide graduates --- we take great pride at the project’s immense contribution to Jewish and Israel education, to a sense of Jewish unity, and to the creation of long-lasting relationships between young Jews and the world over. But more than anything, I believe, it is the fact that so many participants have been transformed as members of the Jewish people by their experience with us. Indeed, Birthright Israel renders itself not a Site-Seeing trip, but an Insight-Seeing journey – a distinction that encapsulates our entire educational philosophy, pedagogy and approach; for one of our chief goals is not merely to scout Israel and visit previously uncharted landmarks, but do so as a means of scouting one’s own uncharted areas of mind and soul: to offer a platform that allows our participants to traverse landscapes of meaning that either have been taken for granted or perhaps even hitherto gone unnoticed. Birthright Israel cultivates a space that is as safe as it is brave to exercise ownership over one’s identity as a Jew, not be given a subscribed recipe for its application. This simple yet profoundly intentional approach is not to be taken lightly, for it constitutes an eye-opener of existential worth for scores of our participants, on their path from “Jews by Birth” to “Jews by Worth”: the realization that “Why be Jewish” starts from an explicit premise that aims to unpack the profound meaning that has always nurtured the very foundations and fabric of our Jewish civilization; that Judaism is rooted in inward meaning-making and not simply in outward practice; that “doing Jewish” aims to manifest a profound sense of “being Jewish”, and that both realms call for honest, rigorous, responsible, intelligent and enjoyable attention; that being part of “Am Yisrael” means to commit oneself to deeper existential, spiritual, cognitive and intellectual questions --- individually, communally and as world citizens. Our Jewish sources not only speak of the intrinsic value of Torah Study (used here as a euphemism for Jewish education, identity formation, and communal commitment) but remind us that a person will not engage in it save from a place of personal inner desire (Bab. Avoda Zara 19a).
Indeed, Birthright Israel has made it its sacred mission to cater to a generation of young Jews who are intelligent, alert and care deeply about a host of issues, yet might never been given a genuine path to experience the inherent contribution of living Jewishly to their interests, passions and convictions. For as this High Holidays season reminds us each year, it is indeed a grand Jewish legacy to rediscover the eternally relevant depth and breadth of Judaism “in each generation anew.”
Wishing us all a meaningful and enjoyable High Holidays season.
DR. ZOHAR RAVIV
Vice President of Educational Strategy, Birthright Israel
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MY BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL STORY AND BECOMING A RABBI: THE LASTING IMPACT
27. And he (the angel) said, “Let me go, for dawn is breaking,” but he (Jacob) said, “I will not let you go unless you have blessed me.
Birthright Israel is an experience that strives to maximize every minute of those magical ten days. So it’s no surprise that 18 years ago, on my Birthright Israel trip, I woke up in a bedouin tent cold, frustrated and exhausted. I staggered onto the bus, and promptly fell asleep. Shortly thereafter, we had reached our destination, the base of the Roman ramp that led up to Masada. As I started to walk off the bus, I felt compelled to make it to the top of the mountain for sunrise. I ran up that ramp until I arrived at King Herod’s winter palace, eventually fortified by Jewish rebels who would give up their lives rather than live in slavery. At that moment, looking out over the Dead Sea towards the Jordanian hills, I felt a connection to my Jewish birthright, in a way that I had never felt before. I felt at home. It was as if, for the first time, I knew that G-d was present in my life.
28. So he said to him, “What is your name?” and he said, “Jacob.”
Birthright Israel changed me forever. In many ways, my trip was a crucial step in my becoming a Rabbi today. It was one of the first experiences I had where I was connecting to Israel, and Judaism as an emerging adult, and not through my parents. It also had a huge impact on my Rabbinate. Birthright Israel was my first immersive travel experience: an opportunity to delve deep into a society, develop lifelong connections, and have crucial opportunities for introspective and extrospective learning. I believe strongly in the transformational impact of immersive travel experiences and have quadrupled the number that we offer in our congregation. I’ve never forgotten the way in which Birthright Israel changed my life and perspective. It’s why every time I see a twenty something in my congregation, the first question I ask them is “When are you going on Birthright?” I recognize the power Birthright Israel has to deepen their Jewish identity and connection to Israel, and to seize their Jewish birthright. Because Birthright Israel is far more than just a trip: it’s representative of our divine inheritance. In Parashat Toldot, we read about Jacob stealing the birthright, but in Parashat Vayishlach, we read about Jacob truly earning it, as the text teaches: Genesis 32 25. And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. 26. When he saw that he could not prevail against him, he touched the socket of his hip, and the socket of Jacob’s hip became dislocated as he wrestled with him.
29. And he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with Divine and with men, and you have prevailed.”
Jacob’s birthright is actualized through a change in name. No longer will he be solely defined by his birth name, but rather by the name that becomes our name: Yisrael: one who struggles with G-d. Our Jewish tradition, from our very name, demands struggle. We study Jewish text not by simply sitting there reading, rather we argue, we struggle with ideas, with people and places. It is the back and forth that helps us define who we are as Jews, and what it means to be a human being. We unfortunately live in a society that strives to simplify every conversation into a soundbite. Where Israel is either David or Goliath, either the oppressor or the oppressed. To struggle with something, to see nuance, to see shades of gray is counter cultural in America today. Our society strives for certainty, when we all live in ambiguity. Birthright Israel offers young people the chance to struggle with the Jewish state. To understand the complexity by traveling with real Israeli soldiers who have the chance to share their story, not a soundbite. To develop an authentic love for the country through that struggle. Not an infatuation with an imaginary place, but through interactions and conversations with real Israelis. These conversations develop an understanding of our complex, beautiful state. May we all have the strength to embrace our birthrights and welcome the struggle and love into our lives.
RABBI LEVEY Rabbi Levey is a Birthright Israel alumnus. He lives with his wife and three sons in Westchester County, NY. He has served as the Associate Rabbi & Jewish Learning Lab Director at Westchester Reform Temple for the past 7 years.
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REFLECTIONS FROM RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS Increasingly, and disturbingly, antisemitism and antiZionism can be found online and in particular, on university campuses around the world. That is what makes the work of Birthright Israel so important and inspiring. It is only by strengthening young Jews pride in, and connection to, their faith and ancient homeland that we will be able to defeat those who seek to demonize Jews and Israel. But, in order for the next generation, the millennials and Generation Z and those that will follow to successfully achieve this, they need to understand why anti-Zionism is the new antisemitism. Many argue that there’s no connection between them. Antisemitism is hatred of Jews as a people, a race, an ethnic group. Anti-Zionism is objection to a country, a nation, a state. How, and in what ways, are these connected? Antisemitism is a virus that mutates, so that new antisemites can deny they are antisemites at all, because their hate is different from the old. In the Middle Ages Jews were hated for their religion. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century they were hated for their race. Today they are hated for their nation state, Israel. What then is the connection between Jews as a people, Judaism as a religion, and Israel as a state? The connection between the Jewish people and Israel goes back long before the birth of either Christianity or Islam. Jews created a society there in the days of Joshua, a kingdom in the days of Saul, and a nation with Jerusalem as its capital in the days of King David: all this more than 3,000 years ago. Jews are the only people who ever created a nation state there. At all other times in the past 3,000 years it was merely an administrative district in an empire whose center was elsewhere: the Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Alexandrian, Roman and Byzantine empires, the Crusaders of the Holy Roman Empire, the various Muslim empires such as the Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, Mamluks and Ottomans, and finally the British. Jews are the only people who have maintained a continuous presence in the land. They are its indigenous, original inhabitants.
when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” Read the Hebrew Bible and you’ll see immediately that it isn’t about the salvation of the soul. It’s about creating in the holy land a society based on the biblical ideas of justice, welfare, the sanctity of life – and caring for the stranger “because you know what it feels like to be a stranger.” Judaism began with two journeys to the land, one by Abraham and Sarah, the other by the Israelites in the days of Moses. At least half of the 613 commandments of the Bible are only applicable to the land of Israel. And though in the centuries of exile and dispersion Jews lived in almost every land under the sun, Israel has remained a focus of their prayers and the only place where they have been able to do what every other nation takes for granted, construct their own society in the light of their own ideals. Judaism differs from the other Abrahamic monotheisms, Christianity and Islam, in that it is the only one of the three that never created or sought to create an empire. It was the imperialism of the Roman emperor Hadrian that led him in the 2nd century to change the country’s name to Palestine, one of the first, but certainly not the last, deliberate falsifications of history by those who seek to deny the Jewish people’s right to their land. There are 56 Islamic nations, and 159 in which Christians form the majority. There is and only ever has been one Jewish state, tiny and vulnerable though it is and always was. That is why Anti-Zionism, denying Jews the right to their one and only collective home by misrepresenting Judaism, is the new antisemitism, every bit as virulent and dangerous as the old. As we enter 5780, we must do all we can to make this argument, and support vital initiatives within the community, such as Birthright Israel, that strengthen the identity of the next generation and help to create a Jewish future and a Jewish people of which we can all be proud.
RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS
The November 1947 United Nations vote to bring Israel into existence was a momentous reversal of imperialism. It gave back to the Jewish people the home taken from them by empire after empire. Israel was the only non-artificial creation in the Middle East after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The rest – among them Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Yemen – were artificial creations that hadn’t been states before, which is why most of them still exist in a condition of ethnic, religious and tribal strife. Only Israel had previously existed as a nation state. That’s the unbreakable connection between Israel and the Jewish people. The connection between Israel and Judaism is equally ancient and fundamental. It is more than just as Robert Frost said, “Home is the place where,
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MY BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL EXPERIENCE In 2012 I led a Birthright Israel trip that included many participants who grew up at Park Avenue Synagogue, and for which much of the funding came from members of our community. During this Birthright Israel trip I have to say, I have never felt so old in my life! The first night at dinner I sat at a table of twenty-somethings, some of whom I discovered were from my hometown of Los Angeles. I overheard that some of them even went to the same High School as I did, and as Jews tend to do in these situations, I initiated a game of Jewish geography. One of the participants perked up and innocently asked if perhaps I had graduated the same year as his father – also a graduate of that high school. It was a dagger through the heart. Imagine how crestfallen I was when I realized that in the eyes of these then college students, I was not a big brother and certainly not a peer, but a co-conspirator in that dreaded project known as their parent’s generation. Given my outsider status on this trip, I decided to think about what Birthright Israel, called Taglit in Hebrew, is all about. What I learned during my trip was that the impact this program has on our young Jewish adults is profound. They walk away from their experience with the ability to speak with confidence about the geopolitics of the Middle East and eager to find a Jewish community. The power lies in that it unabashedly tells a generation of disaffected Jews, “Come as you are,” there are no barriers to entry when it comes to Birthright Israel. Rich/poor, tall/short, Ivy League/City College, religious/secular – come as you, we will take you is the program’s slogan. And once on the trip these young adults experience something that they have never experienced in their lives – being immersed in a group whose sole shared characteristic is being Jewish. The audacity of Birthright Israel is that it can be understood as an effort aimed at bending the arc of modern Jewish history. For the last two hundred years or so, the story of the Jewish people has been a tale of Jews desperately trying to balance the competing tensions of being rooted in their particular history and yet fully participating in modern society, members of a unique and chosen people but also part of a shared humanity, citizens of our country, while connected to a land called Israel. It is a subject that fills libraries, and it is a balancing act that plays out anecdotally in all our daily lives. We send our kids to secular schools and Hebrew schools, summer camps that aren’t Jewish per se, but Jewish enough. We ask our children to experience campus life, engage with a diverse humanity and think critically about everything, but when you come back home, please do so with a Jew so that you can perpetuate an ancient tradition. I could give a million examples; they all reflect the same condition. TO be a modern Jew is a balancing act, and it is a disorienting and exhausting one to say the least.
So, when a young adult goes on Birthright Israel, consciously or not, she or he experiences something that they have never experienced before: the feeling of being integrated whole. It is not so different, mind you, then the argument for Jewish campaign, except that the bar of entry for a trip is much lower. And for a small window of time – ten days to be precise – life makes sense, because being yourself, being Jewish, being proud, connected to the past and at home in the present can all happen at the same time, without contradiction, without any of the qualities or excuses or self-justifying gymnastics of Diaspora life up to that point. The quiet truth about Birthright is that it isn’t primarily a trip about hard content or Israel education; it is a trip about Jewish identity. As Maya Angelou once reflected, people may forget what you said or what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Birthright Israel is able to make its participants feel a certain way. I saw these kids compare the Magen David necklaces they purchased and wore proudly, I saw them put on tefillin on the top of Masada and recite the Shema at the Kotel. I saw it all and I was deeply moved by their raw, and honest and comfortable explorations of Jewish identity. And I would be remiss if I did not also point out the effect on the Israelis who joined their new Diaspora friends. For the first time in their lives, these Israelis had contact with a person who is a Jew but not an Israeli. When it comes to the Jewish peoplehood conversation, only Birthright Israel can point to such a track record of putting Jewish people together. There is more. Birthright Israel is intriguing because unlike so many other programs, it invests not in bricks and mortar but in the most valuable resource we have when it comes to the Jewish future: Jews.*
RABBI ELLIOT J. COSGROVE Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove is Senior Rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City. He was ordained in 1999 at The Jewish Theological Seminary, and subsequently earned a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago Divinity School. He is the author of eleven volumes of sermons and the editor of Jewish Theology in Our Time.
*Excerpted from sermon
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KOHELET’S LESSONS FOR A NEW YEAR How do we address our challenging world through a Jewish lens? As we live in a complicated world, we look to the ancient wisdom of Jewish texts for inspiration. Preparing for the Yamim Noraim—the upcoming Days of Awe—I opened my favorite Jewish text, Kohelet (Ecclesiastes). We read this text each year during Sukkot. It reminds us of the fragility of life—and the delicate dance we do to keep life in balance. It is the ultimate commentary on the seeming futility of life… and the beauty that is contained in life’s day to day activities. You probably know the famous verses in Chapter 3… It begins: “Everything has an appointed season and there is time for everything under the sun.” Words of wisdom from the past, they remind us that life has a rhythm to it, an order. There is time to live and time to enjoy—even as we work to fix the problems in our day. How do we face the challenges of our time? Kohelet instructs us to educate; to build community; to speak up; and to have gratitude.
instructions: It teaches participants how to educate, build community, speak up and have gratitude. Turning young Jewish learners into future Jewish leaders ensures a bright future. Hope has kept the Jewish people alive through thousands of years of challenges. Thanks to Birthright Israel and other organizations that build strong, informed and outspoken young leaders of our community, our commitment to the future is strong.
As we enter our High Holy Day season, the words of Kohelet remind us of the work ahead. This is a season to reflect on renewal and hope; on repair and forgiveness; on rejoicing and gratitude. The world in which we live serves as a backdrop for our own good work…and a reminder that there is much to be done! Shana tova—to a happy, healthy and meaningful year ahead!
RABBI JESSICA ZIMMERMAN GRAF
“THERE IS A TIME TO PLANT AND A TIME TO UPROOT THAT WHICH IS PLANTED.” (Kohelet 3:2) As Jews, we always look to the future. We are driven by a mandate to repair the world—to engage in tikkun olam. We build for the generations yet to come. How can we plant seeds now that will be harvested in the future? “THERE IS A TIME TO BREAK AND A TIME TO BUILD.” (Kohelet 3:3) We rely on each other to sustain us. We create an unbreakable network of people. And together, we experience life’s joys and challenges. How can we strengthen community? “THERE IS A TIME TO BE SILENT AND A TIME TO SPEAK.” (Kohelet 3:7) We must stand up for what we believe in. Judaism teaches us to speak up and speak out. We are the voice for those who have no voice. How can we help to bring justice to our world?
Rabbi Jessica Zimmerman Graf is the senior rabbi at Congregation Sherith Israel in San Francisco and a member of Birthright Israel Foundation’s Bay Area Leadership Council.
“THERE IS A TIME TO WEEP AND A TIME TO LAUGH, A TIME TO WAIL AND A TIME TO DANCE.” (Kohelet 3:4) We end Jewish weddings with the breaking of a glass—the ultimate reminder that happy and sad are intertwined. We know that there is meaning in mourning and in weeping. But we also are taught to laugh heartily and to celebrate the wonders of our world and our lives. We fill ourselves with gratitude—recognizing the miracles all around us. And we dance joyously whenever we can!
85% OF
Our Jewish community is made up of organizations and institutions that help us bring Kohelet’s profound words to life. One of the most important of these organizations is Birthright Israel. Birthright Israel empowers our young people to find their voices and to become leaders of the future. Birthright Israel is the embodiment of Kohelet’s
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BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL: A MODERN DAY MIRACLE Every once in a while I am reminded of the power of miracles in the world. I have yet to witness a miracle as described in lore, like streams changing their currents for example, but every time I am in Israel and see a bus-load of young adults of all backgrounds and Jewish upbringings, wearing the easily recognizable Birthright Israel nametag, in our shared homeland of Israel, I know I am witnessing a modern-day miracle. The moment is rarely lost on me. From a lofty dream in a living room to finding leaders that can execute and recruiting philanthropists that were willing to dig deep and be cutting edge, all the critical ingredients to changing the reality of the Jewish world today and especially tomorrow were met and exceeded. Like Herzl, we are reminded of a dream and the power to will that dream. My favorite scene in the movie, Good Will Hunting is when Robin Williams’ character says to Matt Damon’s character, “I am sure you can tell me everything about Michelangelo, but you do not know what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel.” The blessing of Birthright Israel is that it has allowed a generation of people, over 700,000, to see, smell, taste, hear, feel and appreciate the Nation State of the Jewish people. Is doing that complicated? You bet! Everything valuable and worthwhile in life can be complicated. Relationships are hard, yet I love my wife more today than yesterday. Raising kids is challenging work, but there is nothing more rewarding. Activating my citizenship is much more challenging than were I to sit on the sidelines, but I cannot effect change from the sidelines. So too, with Israel, now more than ever, we need people who are eager and willing to address the “hard” and the “challenging” just as Jabotinsky, Ben Gurion and Golda did in an earlier generation so that today, we can enjoy the fruits of the seeds they planted. Today’s Jewish leader will be one who was significantly influenced by Birthright Israel and its manifold contributions to the world. They will know what the Sistine Chapel smells like, if you will, and how valuable the small strip of land is to our history and our future. Chances are, the future brokers of peace in the region will be products of Birthright Israel. As will leaders on campus, in industry and in government. This shared curriculum ensures dedicated, smart and caring people tasked with a serious challenge who are capable of making our future richer and more meaningful.
RABBI DAVID-SETH KIRSHNER David-Seth Kirshner is the senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, a Conservative synagogue in Closter, New Jersey. He is the past President of the NY and NJ Board of Rabbis and a Senior Rabbinic Fellow at the Hartman Institute. Rabbi Kirshner was appointed to the New Jersey/Israel commission and is a member of the Chancellor’s Rabbinic Cabinet at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
THIS NEW YEAR PLANT THE TREE OF LIFE A man doesn’t plant a tree for himself. He plants it for posterity. (Talmud) This past year has been a challenging one for America in general and the Jewish people in particular. Antisemitism, hate and senseless violence have been the headlines. On October 27, 2018, eleven living, blooming, fruitful branches were cut from the Tree of Life congregation. A room filled with prayer, faith, love and joy, was suddenly overrun by unspeakable devastation. The evil that perpetuated on Shabbat morning in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will forever break our hearts — and forever drive us to illuminate this oft-dark world with the eternal flame that is our our soul. Events like this remind us of how fragile society really is and how much we have to stand together in unity as a community, as a society, to fight against the evils that surround us. Jews know — oy, and how we know — the ugly face of hatred and that the best response to evil and darkness is goodness and light. We combat hatred by increasing in love; we fight antisemitism through increasing in Jewish unity 7 and peace for all of humankind.
Our tradition demands that we reflect, memorialize and act to elevate the life and memory of the innocent victims. What can be done to make sure that something like this never happens again? When I turned on my phone after that fateful Shabbat, I was moved to tears by the many emails, texts and voice messages I received, from both Jews and non-Jews. They poured out their love and support for the Jewish community, in unity and solidarity and sincerity. It was highly comforting to hear and receive so many heartfelt messages. The mayor of Palm Beach, Gail Coniglio, called me to express her support and solidarity, exemplifying how light always outshines darkness. I knew we were not alone in our grief. It reminded me of a story that took place during World War II. Master Sergeant Roddy Edmonds, a non-Jew, was captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944 and placed into a Stalag, a prisoner-of-war camp. One day the Nazi commandant of the camp came to Edmonds, who was the highest-ranking non-commissioned officer among the American prisoners, and told him: “Tomorrow morning you will hand over all the Jewish prisoners under your command.” Edmonds understood that if he were to comply with the order, the roughly 200 Jewish soldiers among them would all be killed. That evening Roddy Edmonds addressed all 1300 US soldiers being held at the camp. “Tomorrow morning,” he announced, “when the commandant comes for the Jewish guys, we are all falling out. We are all going to step forward.”
of the countless good and righteous individuals. The way to find comfort in times of shock and fear is in unity, kindness and friendship. We need to increase our love and support for one another. As we stand up, stand tall, and stand proud, as a humanity crafted in the image of G-d, we declare: “Today, we are all one. We will not permit hatred, bigotry, or antisemitic evil to be perpetrated in our community — whether it is directed against Jew or non-Jew.” When we live by this ethos, The Tree of Life and those who hold on to it, can never be cut down, they will only bloom, blossom and grow stronger. Birthright Israel leads the way in planting the seeds of life, love and light in the hearts and minds of our youth. Sharing not only the Oy but the Joy of Israel and Judaism with future generations. Let us begin the New Year with the prayer: Oseh shalom bimromav, hu yaaseh shalom aleinu, v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru. Amen. May the One who makes peace in the heights make peace for us all, upon all of Israel, and let us say Amen.
RABBI MOSHE E. SCHEINER
The next day when the commandant came to round up what he expected to be about 200 Jewish soldiers, he found all 1300 men awaiting him. “I want only the Jews,” the commandant barked. “Today, a defiant Edmonds replied, we are all Jews.” The commandant removed his luger pistol from its holster and placed the tip of the barrel against Edmonds’ temple. “Give me the Jews or I will shoot you right here.” Edmonds did not blink an eye. “According to the Geneva Convention I am only required to give you my name, my rank and my serial number. And that goes for every one of us. If you kill me, you’ll have to kill us all. And if you do so, the world will know and after we win this war, the Americans will hunt you down and prosecute and punish you for war crimes.” The tactic worked. The commandant holstered his gun and walked away. Master Sergeant Roddy Edmonds has been honored by Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, Israel as a Righteous gentile for saving the lives of 200 Jews. His soulful sacrifice and selfless heroism is what the America stands for. And this human solidarity and unity is stronger than any hate and will combat any darkness. As this challenging year comes to a close, we must hope and encouragement in the courage and compassion
Rabbi Moshe E. Scheiner is the founding Rabbi of the Palm Beach Synagogue and has lectured to communities throughout the world. Rabbi Scheiner resides in Palm Beach with his Rebbetzin, Dinie and their six children.
74% OF PARTICIPANTS
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REFLECTIONS FROM RABBI MICHAEL RESNICK My uncle is a master storyteller. Even at age 95, he has lost little of his oratorical skills. His stories are – just as they have always been – compelling, colorful and profound.
But there is immense strength in knowledge. And having been there; having seen the land; having travelled its width and breadth; having spoken with people that live there; you will return home with a sense of nuance and with an ability to see the shades of gray of the complex issue in a way that is essential as it is rare.
Some of them are whimsical, such as the ones he used to conjure up for his four daughters at bedtime. They were based on the adventures of a particular monkey – Aloysius – that lived in a tree in the family’s backyard. (There was, of course, no monkey, and thinking back I’m not even sure there was a tree.) Nevertheless, the stories of Aloysius with their wonderful moral message were always unforgettable and inspiring.
So sign up for a Birthright Israel trip. Learn the reality of Israel’s story. Be moved. Be inspired. Be transformed. Let the true values of the Jewish State and the Jewish People become part of your moral compass.
Most of my uncle’s stories, however, were based on fact. His experiences on the beach in Anzio under fire during WWII. The trials and tribulations that came along with his owning a Model-T. His time working in the aerospace industry in California during the Apollo years. The time he spun his car off an icy highway in a remote Alaskan wilderness and spent two days waiting for the next car to come by. (Bear Gryllis would have been proud!) And, of course, there were the many stories about the characters in my extended family from a time when I was still running around in diapers.
RABBI MICHAEL RESNICK
These stories, with their message of courage, strength, resourcefulness and ethical focus, were internalized by me as I grew up and, to this day, make up a substantial part of what I consider to be my moral compass. Visiting Israel as a participant on a Birthright Israel trip does the same thing. It connects you with part of the fabric of who you are. You feel that connection to family and the values that are important to your family. And you feel this in your “kishkas” from the moment you land at the airport. On a Birthright Israel trip, you learn about the courage, strength, resourcefulness and ethical focus of Israelis and the Jewish People. Your People. You begin to understand the price Israelis willingly pay to secure the land and to make it safe for the Jewish People to live there. You see the immense diversity of the Jewish People, both in regard to their national origins, but also as it relates to their religious observance and cultural expression. You experience what it feels like to live as a Jew in a Jewish homeland, where the very rhythms of the year are based on a Jewish calendar. Your calendar. You hike Israel’s trails. You see the richness of its wildlife. You experience its nightlife. You travel through an ancient land. You walk through a modern State. And it changes you. It becomes part of who you are; a portion of your personal family history and a section of the foundation of your identity – both personal and Jewish. Yes, there are political issues that will confront you on the ground in Israel, just as they do on college campuses.
It’s your heritage. It’s your family. It’s your story. It’s your birthright. And it’s waiting for you.
Rabbi Michael Resnick started his professional life in advertising, working as Creative Director in an advertising agency in California. As he rediscovered his love of Judaism – and wishing to engage people in more meaningful moments in their lives – he decided to become a rabbi. Rabbi Resnick joined Temple Emanu-El in 2007. In his spare time, Rabbi Resnick enjoys reading a good book (or listening to one on his iPhone), biking, swimming, hiking, fitness, exploring the Everglades and gardening.
PARTICIPANTS ARE
54% MORE LIKELY
TO SAY IT’S VERY IMPORTANT
TO MARRY SOMEONE
JEWISH
9
the smiles on the participants faces and watch them awe in amazement when they learn the history of Masada – it’s all worth it. You can see how Birthright is fostering everlasting connections to Israel and Judaism. One of the best reasons to staff a Birthright Israel trip is that you get to experience Israel anew through the eyes of the participants. Plus, I also got to experience different aspects of Israel like when I led an Israel by Bike trip or when we took the group to the Bahai Gardens in Haifa. I even had the pleasure of meeting Rami Meiri, an outdoor artist who spoke to us about his street art and even let my group partake in painting a piece of a mural outside his studio.
MY BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL STORY IS STILL ALIVE, 13 YEARS LATER BY RACHEL BARNEHAMA, BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FELLOW
No matter how many times I have heard the flight attendant announce “Baruch Habayim L’yisrael (Welcome to Israel),” over the loudspeaker, a chill radiates throughout my body. Each Birthright Israel trip I have had the opportunity to partake in, whether it be as a participant or as a Madricha (staff), brings me an overwhelming sense of excitement and adventure. Every visit to Israel still feels as if it is my first. Through experiences with Birthright Israel I have a chance to discover a new facet of Jewish and Israeli culture and diversity. Israel is not only the home of my forefathers, but it is my home as well!
Participants on Birthright Israel trips within hours begin to form a family of their own, and this is due to the collective experiences they are having together. You can see their minds working when they are eagerly asking questions about Israeli society and it’s people. On one of the many long rides I’ve taken with groups, I overheard my participants discussing the conflict in Israel. As the staff, we take advantage of times like this and use it as a learning opportunity where we give participants the proper tools to debate Israel and hold open discussions.
My Jewish journey began from infancy. I was born and raised in Great Neck, New York where we are lucky to have a huge Jewish community. I was also raised in a house where Judaism and Israel were central aspects of our life. When the time came to decide what I would do for my first spring break freshman year (2006), the only choice that seemed natural was to go on Birthright Israel. However, like many of my peers who would experience Israel for the first time via Birthright, I had been privileged to go before with my family. This time around, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would I be bored seeing the same sites again? Would I experience anything new? Would I wish I had gone alone and have the free time to see my family and friends?
One interaction I had with a participant still stands out in my mind to this day. Jeremy came on Birthright as a college sophomore. He was raised Catholic, and two days before our trip he was at Christmas Mass with his mother. Jeremy’s father was Jewish, but despite his lineage, he was the only Jew in his entire town. He held his Jewish identity close for many years but never learned about or practiced in any way until he met a friend in college who brought him to Hillel for a Shabbat dinner. It was there Jeremy learned about Birthright Israel. Throughout his Birthright Israel journey, Jeremy would ask me questions about Shabbat which he didn’t know occurred every week. He asked me to tell him the history of the Jewish people and was overwhelmed by the entire experience. He had no idea he would learn so much about his Jewish roots or his people’s history. Jeremy fell in love with Israel and four months after his Birthright Israel trip he returned to Israel to continue learning.
Looking back now, choosing a Birthright Israel trip was the best decision I could have made. It benefited me, but it also inspired me to give back. For the years following my trip, I strived to encourage people to go to Israel with Birthright. I have since staffed ten trips and encouraged my participants on my trips to become madrichim (staff).
The beauty is, so many young Jewish adults like Jeremy have awe-inspiring moments on Birthright Israel trips each year. And every time I visit Israel with Birthright, it reaffirms my commitment to Israel and Judaism, but most of all reminds me why I decided to become a Jewish Educator.
To this day my friends and family ask me on a regular basis if staffing Birthright trips all the time gets boring. The truth is no. I could visit Har Bental, Independence Hall and the Kotel over and over again. Yes, there were surely times when waking up at 3:00 AM to hike Masada was the last thing I wanted to do, but, when you reach the top and see
I know my grandparents who were members of the Hagannah would be proud that I am serving our people and doing my part to build Jewish identity and a love for Israel throughout my life and in my work. 10
There are so many people who have been a part of these exciting journey’s. To all my tour guides, co-staff and participants, thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching me so much about Israel, myself and the world, and for changing my life with the adventures we’ve gone on together. Heres to the next ten! In May 2018 Rachel graduated from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion with her Master’s in Religious Education. Rachel also holds a master’s concentration in Israel education from the iCenter and is a Birthright Israel Fellow. In winter 2018-2019 she led her tenth Birthright Israel trip.
There is an amazingly substantial Jewish community in Miami, but I just never felt like I fit in for some reason. On my 29th birthday, I realized I had no one to spend the day with so I decided to drive four hours to Orlando and go to Disney World. I was feeling down and could use being at the most magical place on Earth. Plus, I used to work for Disney Cruise Lines, so I knew I could get in for free! As I was driving back from my trip…I knew I couldn’t keep going on like this. I felt this massive void in my life. I wasn’t connected to anything, I wasn’t fulfilled, and I was lonely. I decided I needed a change. I made a list of things I wanted to do to get my life back on track. One of the things I wrote on this list was to visit Israel. This was important to me because my grandmother who is a Holocaust Survivor always instilled a love for Israel in me. A little while later, I was talking with a good friend who lives in Los Angeles who told me she had just gotten back from her Birthright Israel trip, and I was shocked. I thought we were both too old to go on a Birthright Israel trip! She went on to tell me that you could be 29 years old and still go. In fact, there was an opportunity for people based in Los Angeles to go to Israel on this trip. I know this may sound crazy, but I took our conversation as a sign that I needed to take action, so I applied to go on the trip, I had my work transfer me to Los Angeles, I packed up everything I own and moved to California just so I could be eligible to go on this trip!
HOW I FOUND COMMUNITY ON A BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL TRIP BY EVE KARLIN, BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL ALUMNA
Isn’t it amazing how when you’re young, your life is built around the idea of community? We have community at school with our classmates, community with sports and in my case community with fellow tennis players on my high school tennis team or the dancers, I danced with in college. There are a lot of opportunities to be part of a community that is built into the educational experience from kindergarten through college. But once you graduate college, building a community is really tricky. For the most part, you build community around work since that is where, you spend much of your time. Speaking of work, when I had the chance to get my dream job in Miami, Florida I took it. I had an apartment on the beach, I was managing one of the top fitness gyms in the country, and I thought I would absolutely love it…and have yet again another community. However, it was actually a terrible experience. I couldn’t connect with anyone at work.
I got to LA a day before my Birthright Israel trip was leaving. I got accidentally locked out of my new apartment doing laundry and spent hours trying to figure out how to get in and finally had the landlord help me. Hurriedly, I packed my bags fast and within a few hours I was heading to Israel!!!! While I was in Israel, something magical happened. I finally felt what I was missing. I found my community, and it was with my fellow Jewish people. The energy of the trip was indescribable. There was this connection I had with a busload of strangers that became my closest friends in a way I couldn’t even imagine. I went to Israel with no community, and I came back with forty strangers who became my family, my community. Something I specifically remember from my trip was visiting a synagogue in Tzfat. When we got off the bus, there was this energy in the air. We hear this music. We see the whole street singing and dancing and laughing. Moreover, we are like “WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!” It’s a Bar Mitzvah, we were told, and then this random old woman grabs my hand, and we start dancing in the street. We were so happy, and we were so present – we were one community. 11
After dancing in the streets, we went to visit an old synagogue to learn its history. Everything starts to gel together, and I realized the Jewish people are my sense of community. I needed to do something to take action to solidify my connection to my new community. When we left the synagogue, I looked up and saw a candle shop and ran towards it. I decided at that moment that every Friday night moving forward I would light Shabbat candles. I bought pretty much all of the shop’s Shabbat candles. I had so many candles I didn’t know how I was going to get them home, so I went next door and bought a big ole suitcase that’s sole purpose was to hold a year’s worth of Shabbat candles and pray that none of them break! After I arrived back in Los Angeles lighting Shabbat candles became my ritual for connecting to my Jewish identity. I light Shabbat candles every week. I am now incredibly passionate about hosting events such as open mic nights for Hanukkah, Break the Fast, Shabbat dinner, the list goes on to reach other young Jewish adults and educate them on the beauty of our shared heritage. When people come to my apartment for these events, I tell them you don’t have to worry about not feeling Jewish enough or just being “Jew-ish.” There’s no wrong way in how you are Jewish. There is no wrong way to be part of this community, just be part of it. The void of “community” that exists for so many 20 and 30 something-year-olds can be filled with the beauty of our Jewish community. Moreover, for me, the beauty of this community began with a Birthright Israel trip and a bus full of strangers who became lifelong friends. Since my Birthright Israel trip, I’ve obviously fallen in love with the country. I’ve been there five times, and I am a Birthright Israel Fellow. I have had the opportunity to staff three trips, and the list honestly can go on and on about how Birthright has changed my life. However, what I want to say to those of you who are still reading this is, many of whom are probably donors; you are the reason that my life changed and the reason I found my community in the Jewish people. Thank you.
Thank you so much for reaching into your hearts and making a gift so that people like me can go on this magical trip. Your generosity helped me realize I don’t have to be anyone, but myself and I can be lit up by the beauty of Israel and the Jewish people. I can tell you this beyond a shadow of a doubt, and keep in mind this is coming from someone who loves Disney and worked for them for two years, for a young Jewish person, it is NOT Disney, but Israel, that is the most magical place on earth.
APPLES, HONEY & POMEGRANATE CRUMB PIE BY LINDSAY MORRISON YOU’LL NEED: 8-9” pie dish pomegranate seeds, to top FOR THE PIE FILLING: 1/4 cup pomegranate juice 8 golden delicious apples 1 tsp lemon juice 50 g granulated sugar (1/4 cup) 30 g all-purpose flour (1/4 cup) 3 tbsp honey, plus more to drizzle on top pinch of kosher salt FOR THE CRUMB: 113 g cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes (1 stick) 66 g granulated sugar (1/3 cup), plus more for topping 1.5 tsp baking powder 220 g all-purpose flour (1 3/4 cups) 3/4 cup heavy cream, cold pinch of kosher salt TO PREPARE: Prepare the crumb. (This can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to 3 days prior). Cut butter into small cubes, and place in the freezer while preparing the other ingredients. Mix together sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter (either using a pastry cutter or pulsing in a food processor) until the butter is the size of course crumbles, a little smaller than the size of a pea. Slowly add in the heavy cream. Using your hands, clump together the dough until the pieces come together - add small amounts of ice water if necessary. Refrigerate in a bowl until ready to use. Prepare the filling. Peel, core and slice the apples into 1/8 inch slices. Mix together the honey, lemon juice and pomegranate juice. Toss apples and liquid together with remaining ingredients. Put filling into a deep 8-9” pie dish, and place on a cookie sheet lined with a silpat, parchment paper or foil in case the filling bubbles over while baking. Top filling with the crumb and sprinkle with sugar - don’t be shy! You can also brush the crumb with egg wash (1 egg, 1 egg yolk and a pinch of kosher salt) or extra cream to enhance the browning. Bake at 375 degrees for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, rotating halfway through, until the apples are cooked throughout and the crumb is golden brown. Cover with foil if the crumb begins to get too brown while baking. Drizzle the top with honey and pomegranate seeds. 12
MEET
LINDSAY MORRISON WHAT’S YOUR JEWISH BACKGROUND? I grew up attending Or Ve Shalom and making bourekas with my Sephardic side of the family. I also attended Jewish Day School and summer camp at Camp Barney Medintz. During college I was in AEPhi, a Jewish sorority. WHAT WAS THE MAJOR FACTOR THAT DROVE YOU TO SIGN UP FOR BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL? I always wanted to go! I applied for years to go with my (now) husband from the University of Florida, but we were never selected. It ended up working out a few years later through the Atlanta community trip and now we have a great network of Jewish friends in our area. To this day, we’re still friends with so many people we met and it’s great they live nearby! HOW DID YOUR EXPERIENCE ON BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL INFLUENCE YOUR BAKING? Jewish food is the best! It’s such an important part of our culture and our traditions. I loved having a culinary experience firsthand on my trip. It’s really a full circle experience to grow up making challah with your great grandmother, eating it with your family on Shabbat, and then seeing and eating it in that same experience on Birthright Israel. WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL? It was just so memorable to see the place I’d learned about for years, firsthand. I loved connecting with other Jewish people in my age group, that I met in Israel on my trip. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE TRIP? Probably getting to share it with my husband. I grew up with more Jewish ties than he did, so it was nice to have this experience together.
Lindsay Morrison participated in Birthright Israel in 2012 with her husband Ben. She is a trained pastry chef based out of Atlanta, GA.
DID YOUR EXPERIENCES ON BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL AFFECT YOU LONG-TERM? It really just continued to strengthen the foundation I built growing up. Because of Birthright, I’ve had a stronger Jewish relationship with myself, my husband and the Atlanta community we shared the experience with. I have a baby now and when I think about what I want for our son, it’s an experience like my trip, that played a large part in solidifying the importance of my Jewish background. 13
Carly & Alex 18 PEOPLE WHO FOUND THEIR
Beshert ON BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL
Carly and Alex met on their Birthright Israel trip back in 2014. Although they lived under 6 miles from each other in Boston at the time, they didn’t meet until their trip when they were over 5,000 miles from home! Carly and Alex got married on August 26, 2018, almost exactly 4 years to the day of when they met en route to Tel Aviv. Carly says, “We are so grateful to Birthright for bringing us together. We want others to know how life-changing the experience really can be. We do hope to make it back to Israel again one day. Thank you so much for bringing us together. We truly wouldn’t be where we are today without Birthright Israel!”
Dana & Aaron
Mackenzie & Ian
For Ian and Mackenzie, Birthright Israel was much more than a free trip- it was where their love story began. In the mere 10 days of their trip, Mackenzie and Ian grew inseparable and connected on such a deep level. Mackenzie tells us, “I don’t know if it is the spiritual connection you develop when learning about your Jewish history or the connection to Judaism that grows by the end of the trip, but by the end of this journey I knew more about Ian than any guy I have ever dated before. The fact that we had so much in common and somehow got on the same trip, was destiny.”
Becky & Gregory Becky and Gregory first met eight years ago at Toronto Pearson airport, right before beginning their amazing journey to Israel. Over the course of the trip, the two hit it off and became good friends. They continued their newfound friendship long after they returned home, talking over the phone, texting and hanging out together and with other friends. After a while, they grew to love each other and began their relationship. Gregory said, “We’ve been dating for over 5 years and they have been the best years of my life. Without Birthright I would have never met Becky, and we always talk about our experiences and memories of that amazing trip…” Gregory proposed to Becky this past August and describes Becky as his “soulmate.” The two have Birthright to thank and they couldn’t be more grateful!
Aaron from California tells us how close Birthright Israel brought him and his wife, Dana. “My wife and I share a bond because of Birthright Israel that can never be broken. We truly believe it was fate that we chose to connect closer with our Judaism on Birthright Israel and want to make sure Judaism is a very important part of our son’s upbringing.”
Daniella & Sagi Exactly five years after Daniella and Sagi met on Birthright Israel, Sagi proposed! Daniella says, “Meeting my future husband on Birthright Israel obviously made a huge impact on my life! I wouldn't be where I am or who I am today without him, and now we have a beautiful son together, Mason Josef. I cherish everything about that trip not only because it was one of the best ten days of my life, but because I met incredible people and discovered a country that I will always be 14 connected to.”
Deborah & Max
Amanda & Eric Amanda and Eric became fast friends on their Birthright Israel trip. The pair started dating months after they returned from Israel for about three years before Eric proposed. Amanda says, “Birthright Israel was a real adventure for us! Personally, I was across the world with a bus full of strangers, and it was both scary and one of the happiest times of my life. It really bolstered my belief in the idea that you should do what scares you and fill your life with adventures. Life's too short not to. That idea really guides our relationship. Eric and I want to fill our lives with adventures, and we've gotten a pretty good start…”
It was 2014 when Deborah and Max began their Birthright Israel journey together. Max was single, Deborah was not. Although Deborah tried to fight it and insisted it was platonic, there was an unmistakable and real connection between the two. Throughout the trip, they kept finding more things in common. When it was time to go home, the two sat together the entire flight back. They exchanged numbers and hadn’t stop talking since that day. Deborah finally admitted to her boyfriend, and to herself, that her feelings for Max were more than friendly. She and her boyfriend broke up and she visited Max in Philadelphia two weeks later. "I met someone who saw the world, and who perceived the world emotionally, in a way that felt similar to me," Deborah said. That November, Max proposed and even though Deborah cried for what seemed like five minutes, she said, “Of course I’m going to marry you.” They’ve been together ever since.
Shannon & Or
It was 2008 when Shannon and Or met on their Birthright Israel trip. Shannon explains, “A few days into the trip, we were joined by a group of Israeli soldiers. On to the bus walks Or, who immediately caught my attention. I still remember that feeling of excitement, although at the time I didn't really understand why. From the moment we met, there was something special about our connection. We talked endlessly during those first few days and when the trip was over, we continued speaking every day on Skype and through text messages. A few months later when Or finished the army, he traveled to San Francisco to see me. We knew that this was a relationship worth fighting for. For the next two years we managed a long-distance relationship, with occasional trips to see each other. In August 2010 I decided to make Aliyah, to get another degree at IDC Herzliya and of course to be closer to Or.” Shannon and Or are now happily married and have such an appreciation for all that Birthright Israel gave them.
Jenna & Jesse Jenna never imagined she would meet her future husband on her Birthright Israel trip. It was January 2007 when Jenna and Jesse met at the airport, and exactly 10 years later, their son was born. “I feel so fortunate to have gotten to experience Birthright Israel with my now-husband and some of our closest friends. The trip gave me a love and appreciation for Israel. I want to return one day and share where we met with our family.” 15
A LOOK BACK IN
BIRTHRIGHT ISR 2000 -2019 The first Accessibility/Special Needs trip takes place in conjunction with the National Jewish Council for the Disabled
Birthright Israel becomes officially recognized by the IDF's Education Corps
2001
2002
1999/2000 Birthright Israel launches with 9,500 participants from 11 countries
2003
In only 2 short years trip participation reaches 17,000
Birthright Israel welcomes its 100,000th participant
2006
2004
Birthright Israel Foundation is established to build and expand financial support for future trips Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru join the list of countries from South America sending young adults on Birthright Israel trips
2007
Annual capacity is increased to over 37,700 participants a year
16
TIME
AEL
Birthright Israel welcomed its 700,000th participant
2019
Birthright Israel Foundation hosts 18th Anniversary Gala raising $125 million in one night Over 80 supporters join Birthright Israel Foundation for its 18th Anniversary Mission to Israel Birthright Israel has impacted an entire generation, 650,000 young Jewish adults
2018
U.S. Olympic swimmer, Ben Wildman-Tobriner of San Francisco becomes the 200,000th Birthright Israel participant
2009
2010
Birthright Israel has had 50,000 Mifgash participants
Birthright Israel now has 350,000 participants from 64 countries, and 65,000 Israelis
2013
2011
Birthright Israel Excel is launched to provide internship experience to young Jewish adults from the Diaspora and Israel The Israeli Government announces they will donate $100 million to Birthright Israel over three years in order to increase participant numbers
In total, 500,000 participants from 66 countries have experienced Birthright Israel up until this point
2015
2017 Birthright Israel welcomes 600,000th participant, actor and producer, Jonathan Lipnicki
2014
Birthright Israel welcomes its 400,000th participant
2016
Birthright Israel reaches 80,000 Mifgash participants Over $1 billion contributed to the Israeli economy
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If you would like your Synagogue to get more involved with Birthright Israel and partner with us in our important work, please be in touch with Rabbi Daniel Kraus at daniel.kraus@birthrightisrael.org
WISHING YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SWEET NEW YEAR!