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Live from The Bus
The best way to understand the Birthright Israel experience is to hear from participants firsthand. Here are a few notes straight from Israel about the impact of those 10 days.
New Beginnings
BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL AND BEYOND
With over 500,000 Birthright Israel alumni, there are over half a million stories of why this trip is truly lifechanging. For some, it is the first step on their Jewish journey and for others, the trip solidifies their commitment to living a life with Jewish values and carrying on the traditions of our ancestors. But, the best part about Birthright Israel, is it finds a way to touch each participant in a unique way.
A MATCH MADE IN ISRAEL: MICHELLE AND ALEX BRONZO
February 3, 2013: Michelle and Alex meet at a very romantic setting... Newark Airport. Little did they know that their trip together to Israel—which they both took a chance on—would change everything. Somewhere in between hikes through the desert, trying new foods in the Shuk, camel rides at the Bedouin village, and entertaining bus trips, they realized their quickly growing feelings for one another were unlike anything they had experienced before. They were completely smitten! After the 10 days, Michelle returned home and told her mom, “I met the guy I’m going to marry!” Alex echoed similar sentiments to his family and friends, and moved back to NYC so they could be together.
Once in New York, their relationship was off to the races after having a special and unique foundation. While holding onto many friendships from their Birthright Israel trip, they continued to grow together, learning so much about each other, traveling together, and becoming intertwined in each other’s families.
One of their most meaningful memories from Israel was a memory of them just spending time together on a bench in
Netanya. So it was fitting that Alex would propose—just a year and four months after meeting—on another bench in NYC's Tudor City Greens. The proposal was an unbelievably private, intimate moment that left both of them with joyous tears, excited for their life ahead.
Their Birthright Israel beginning continues to shape their relationship together in many ways. As a young married couple embarking on the journey of life, their Jewish identity has been infused into decisions small and large, ranging from Judaica on the wedding registry to the ways in which they plan to raise their future children. The backdrop of Israel during the first days of their relationship shaped the way in which they saw each other, the value they placed on their Jewish identities, and the future they wanted to build together. They often reminisce about their expectations that Birthright Israel would bring them closer to their Jewish heritages, and they are forever grateful that it brought them that and so much more!
A GRANDDAUGHTER'S UNDERSTANDING: SARA GREENBERG
“From an early age, I knew Israel was an important place. My mother’s parents had both survived the Holocaust. After World War II, my grandfather, a survivor of Auschwitz, volunteered in a displaced persons camp in Germany helping other Jewish refugees get to British-controlled Palestine. While my grandfather hoped to also emigrate to Eretz Yisrael, his one surviving family member from the war, his brother, was unable to secure a visa and instead they accompanied each other to the United States. While my grandfather spent his adult life in the U.S., he never ceased to remind me of the importance of Israel, the one Jewish State, the only nation that ensured the Holocaust would never happen again.
When I started college, I decided that it was time for me to get to know the Israel better. I signed up for Birthright Israel because I wanted to travel with a group of my peers to see, experience, and talk about what Israel meant for the Jewish people, what Israel meant for the world – but also what Israel meant for me.
My biggest take-away from my Birthright Israel trip was that I wanted to one day return to Israel to see and learn more! This big take-away would eventually lead to me making Aliyah – 10 years later.
While my connection to Israel grew through a culmination of many different experiences, I credit Birthright Israel with giving me the initial “push” to keep exploring the “pull” I felt to the tiny country many miles away from where I grew up.”
In 2009, Sara made a documentary, B-2247: A Granddaughter’s Understanding, to tell her family’s story and reflect on the experience of learning about her grandparent’s survival of the Holocaust. The film is now shown to Birthright Israel participants prior to their visit to Yad Vashem.
