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TABLE OF CONTENTS 02 LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD & OUR PRESIDENT 03 THE DONORS THAT LIGHT THE WAY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION 09 BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FELLOWS: LEADING THE WAY 11 THE ONGOING JEWISH JOURNEY: AN ACTIVITY FOR HOME 13 BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL SAMPLE INTINERARY 15 5 WAYS BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL CHANGED ME AS AN ISRAELI 17 HOW DONATING TO BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL MAKES LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES POSSIBLE 19 BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL LOVE STORY: JANE & VITALY 20 A KIDDUSH SPRINKLE COOKIE RECIPE YOU'LL ABSOLUTELY LOVE 21 HOW A FREE TRIP TO ISRAEL SAVED MY MENTAL HEALTH EDITOR IN CHIEF: PAMELA L. FERTEL WEINSTEIN CONTENT COORDINATOR: ANDRIA K. AYLYAROV GRAPHIC DESIGNER: PERRI A. GINSBERG

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DEAR FRIENDS, The last several months have been like no other as we navigate these unprecedented times and look to adapt to our new normal. We cannot thank you enough for your ongoing support and sincere generosity as well. Although the COVID-19 pandemic may have postponed more than 30,000 young Jewish adults from experiencing the magic of Birthright Israel this summer, we are committed to keeping our promise and providing them with this extraordinary gift as soon as it is safe to do so. We know this educational experience is worth the wait. We look forward to welcoming the first groups as soon as Israel opens its door once again. This year may look different than we had initially planned, but we are still proud of all that Birthright Israel has accomplished in just 20 years. The program has made Jewish communities all over the world stronger. Our children and grandchildren are proud to be Jewish and are connected to our homeland and the people of Israel like never before. Here at Birthright Israel Foundation, we will continue to look towards the future and are motivated by our two decades of success since the launch of the program. It is because of friends like you we can celebrate our 20th year knowing more than 750,000 young Jewish lives have been changed. We are forever grateful. As you read this issue of Journeys, we hope you realize the incredible impact you have had on our people. Your generosity is transforming our present and our future. We know the future of Birthright Israel will continue to be a bright one with your support.

Warmly,

THOMAS D. STERN

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

IZZY TAPOOHI PRESIDENT & CEO

JOURNEYS â€˘ ISSUE 12

THE DONORS THAT LIGHT THE WAY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION Thanks to the generosity of numerous philanthropic foundations and nearly 40,000 annual donors, Birthright Israel is a gift. Without the support of our most generous friends this gift would remain a dream out of reach and unrealized. We are so thankful for the support of those that lead the way in providing the gift of Birthright Israel. We gratefully acknowledge our donors who have so generously supported Birthright Israel Foundation’s 2019 Annual Campaign at the $1,000,000 and above level.

Adelson Family Foundation

Mikhael Mirilashvili

Blavatnik Family Foundation

Jane and Daniel Och

Rita and Charles Bronfman

Ronald Perelman

Jim Joseph Foundation

Cheryl and Haim Saban

Koum Family Foundation

Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation

Robert K. Kraft Family

Marcy Gringlas & Joel Greenberg, Seed The Dream Foundation

Allison and Howard Lutnick Maimonides Fund The Marcus Foundation, Inc.

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The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life Denise R. and Thomas D. Stern Family Foundation Anonymous 3

THANK YOU TO OUR DEDICATED SUPPORTERS WHO ARE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE JEWISH FUTURE AT THE $100,000+ LEVEL Ewa and S. Daniel Abraham Amy and David Abrams Leonard and Madlyn (z"l ) Abramson Aronson Family Foundation The Beacon and Shapira Foundations Debra and Leon Black Allison and David Blitzer Bloomberg Philanthropies Irma and Norman Braman Ulrika and Joel Citron Kristen and Rob Clarfeld The Crown Family Mark Cuban William Davidson Foundation The Ron and Nanci Eichel Foundation Eskenazi Family Dorit and Shawn Evenhaim Edward Fein Foundation The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Meryl and Ron Gallatin Lauren Schor Geller and Martin Geller Susie and Michael Gelman Goldring Family Foundation Judy and Mark Goodman The Gould and Shenfeld Families Farah and Steve Gozini Nancy and Stephen Grand Lynne and Howard Halpern Hittman Family Foundation Gene Hoffman Marjorie and Jeffrey Honickman The Bernard M. and Audrey Jaffe Foundation Ivan Kaufman Lori Komisar and Morrie Silverman Koret Foundation

Harry Krakowski The Leon Levine Foundation Janet and Eugene Lerner Family Foundation Andrea and Michael Leven Gila and Adam Milstein Family Foundation Linda Mirels & The Kirsh Family Beth and Joshua Nash NICE Systems Inc. Arline and Buddy Pepp Ina and Murray Pitt Dena and Michael Rashes Malki and J. Philip Rosen Carolyn and Marc Rowan Moise Y. Safra Foundation Inc. The Samberg Family Foundation Sassoon Family Foundation The Schoenbaum Family Foundation, Inc. Scott Seligman Miriam and Isaac Shepher Jane F. and D. Lawrence Sherman Saskia and Stephen Siderow Daniel Sielecki Jacqueline and David Simon Skolnick Family Charitable Trust Geraldine AcuĂąa-Sunshine and Gabe Sunshine Judy and Sidney Swartz Merryl and James Tisch Viterbi Family Foundation Leslie and Abigail Wexner The Wilf Family Foundation Woldenberg Family Foundation The Wright Foundation, Inc. Zell Family Foundation Anonymous (4)

WITH APPRECIATION FOR OUR 2019 DONORS WHO HAVE MADE SO MANY DREAMS A REALITY $60,000+ Susanna Lachs Adler and Dean Adler Sharyn Berman and Chuck Meyers The Molly Blank Fund of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Lisa N. and Lawrence J. Cohen Arthur Dantchik Ann and Jay Davis Eaton Steel Corporation Helgard Field-Lion and Irwin S. Field Jodie and Steven Fishman Harold Grinspoon Foundation Gayle and Paul Gross Arlene and David Horowitz Alison and Shawn Horwitz Amy and Scott Jaffee Arlene Kaufman and Sanford Baklor The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation S & L Marx Foundation Lexie and Michael Messinger Amy and Michael Morhaime David and Inez Myers Foundation Allison and Bennett Rosenthal Doug and Robyn Ross Family Foundation Leonard Sherman in Memory of Diane Sherman Sharon and Howard Socol Laurie and Sy Sternberg Beth and Alan Waldenberg

$30,000+ Debbie and Mark Attanasio Rosalyn August and Joel Goodman Becky and Avi Banyasz Lisa and David Barse The Benevity Community Impact Fund Miriam G. Bernstein Dahlia and Art Bilger Cody Bronfman Mitzvah Project Eduardo Bross Cheryl and James Buller

Deborah Cable and Barry Swidler Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation Marci and Jeremy Cohen Pippa Cohen Shirley and Milton Cooper Toby and Leon Cooperman The Dalton Family Fund Herman Dana Trust Dezer Family Foundation Bernard Ellman Judith and Marc Felgoise Mario Fleck Amy and Mort Friedkin Valerie J. and Mark A. Friedman Paz and Richard Goldberg Susan and Jeffrey Goldenberg Andrea and Laurence Goldfarb Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation Susan and Dennis Gralla Iris and Igal Hami Kim and Gary Heiman Susan and Jon Held Francine and Richard Highbloom Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York Kristin Johnson Karp and Michael Karp Barbara Kay Family Foundation Carmela and Yosef Klein Corie and Michael Koss Betty and John Levin Harriet and Ed Levine Estate of Ethelyn Lieblich LSP Family Foundation The Malkin Family Roberta and Joseph Menzin The Mirowski Family Foundation Mozel Charitable Trust Ocasa Inc. Judy Opper Bernard Osher Jewish Philanthropies Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Theodore F. Perlman Shirley and Stuart Podolsky & Sharon and Jay Podolsky Aviva and Eyal Postelnik John Pritzker Family Fund Jill and Mitchell Roberts Dulcy and Jerry Rosenberg Stephen M. Ross Lawrence J. and Anne Rubenstein Foundation Linda and Tony Rubin Michael B. Rukin Charitable Foundation David Safir The Saidoff Foresight Foundation Susan and Lee Schulman Joyce and Henry Schwob Barbara and Mark Silber Shonni Silverberg and John M. Shapiro Barbara and Richard Silverman

Alisa and Yossi Simsoly Jennifer and Tony Smorgon The Snider Foundation Social Justice Foundation Irma (z"l) and Aaron Spencer The Bley Stein Foundation & Ronald Stein Mona and David Sterling Lisa and Steven Tananbaum Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas Lee Scott Weiner Elyse and Charles Weisenfeld Tina and Joe Wolf Nancy and Richard Wolfson Richard Yulman Lynn and Nick Zerbib Eric Zoller Anonymous (6)

$10,000+ Anita and Marc Abramowitz Alfredo Achar Marta and Robert Adelson Gisela and Daniel Ades The Albaum Family Alexander Family Foundation Martin Alloy Jane and Norman W. Alpert Arborvista Family Philanthropic Fund Sara and Leonard Aronson Anne Bakar and Yossi Zadik Judy and Elie Balas Pamela and Philip Barnett Michael Baron Tal Bar-Or Brucie and Edward Baumstein Nancy and Scott Beiser Louise and Leo Benatar Vicki and Gerry Benjamin Connie and Don Berg Gayle Berg Edwin L. Berger Charitable Trust Marion and Stanley Bergman Stefany and Simon Bergson Judith and Howard Berkowitz Bryna and Fred Berman Diane and Jordan Berman Kerrin and Peter Bermont Judy and Howard Bernick Jill and Jay Bernstein Sara and Michael Bernstein Mickey and Lawrence Beyer The Bialer Family Foundation Melinda Bieber and Norman Pozez Marsha and Brian Bilzin Sarah Biser and Robert Kravitz The Black Family Amy and Jason Blavatt Laurie Blitzer and Sam Levine 5

Penny and Harold Blumenstein Roberta and Stanley Bogen Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Bohrer Sandra and Robert Borns Carolyn and David Brodsky Dori Brown Jane and Dennis Carlton Pamela Chawkin Joyce and Aubrey Chernick Moira and Tony Cohen Rhonda and David Cohen Ruth and Leonard A. Cole Jean and Sandy Colen Carol and Lawrence Cooper Todd Cooper Jane and Alan (z''l) Cornell Steven B. Crystal, The Crystal Family Foundation Christine and Alan Curtis Marvin and Betty Danto Family Foundation Danielle and Gregg Darish Leah and Richard Davis Alyce and Philip de Toledo Nanci and Stephen Dephoure Toby and Neal Deutsch Barak Diskin Linda and Jeffrey Drowos Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg Sharon Elghanayan Corzine and Jon Corzine Sheila Engelstein Dana and Rick Entin Donald M. Ephraim for the Donald M. Ephraim Family Foundation Debbie and Jerry Epstein Nancy and Larry Epstein Robert Epstein Faye and Steve Erdman Beth and David Ertel Diane and Neil Exter Catherine and John Farahi Susan and Ben Farahi Leslie and David Fastenberg Allison and Larry Fehrenbaker Jill and Lenny Feinberg Susan and Leonard Feinstein Foundation Sherry and Joseph Felson Hilary and Joe Feshbach Jaimie and David Field Kathy Fields and Garry Rayant Sheila Fine Sandra and Gerald Fineberg Jill and Mark Fishman Meira and Tom Fleisch Jo and Steve Fogel Diane and Alan Franco The Sharna and Irvin Frank Foundation Howard Freedberg Viki and Paul Freeman

Sharon and Michael Freudenstein The Eric Friedheim Foundation Lorraine and Ray Friedman Teresa and Leonard Friedman Linda and Michael Frieze Barbara and Mike Gamson Alice and Nathan Gantcher Cindy and Howard Garoon Shira and Fredric Garvett Jami Gertz and Tony Ressler Bernard Gewirz Debbie and Elliot Gibber The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Patty Glaser and Sam Mudie Shirley Glass Charitable Lead Trust Lesley and Gary Glazer Glen Oaks Country Club Amy and Clifford Goldman Luciane and Jay G. Goldman Cathy Dobbs Goldstein and Philip Goldstein Tamar and Eric Goldstein Shlomo Gonen Lori and Robert Goodman Penny and Larry Goodman Christina M. and Michael S. Gordon Dorothy Goren Jay Gould Paula and James Gould Richard Green Beth C. and Lawrence D. Greenberg Julie and Joel Greenblatt Lori and Alexander Greene Rhonda and Greg Greenstein Lindsey and Evan Gremont Nancy and Jim Grosfeld Mimi and Peter Haas Fund Caroline and Michael Hackman Linda G. Haft and Michael Sherman Judy and David Hager Shirley and Richard Hahn Bat Sheva and Murray Halpern Sharon and David Halpern Charles Hammerman Linda and Jeffrey Hammes Abbe and Lloyd Hascoe Ellen and Michael Hefter Lila and Doug Hertz Francine and Richard Highbloom Audrey and Jeffrey Hiller David Himelberg Foundation Mr. Todd Hirsch The Henry and Etta Raye Hirsch Heritage Foundation Sue and Larry Hochberg Laura and Michael Hochberger Michael Hochman Karen and Mark Holzberg Mindy and Ron Horowitz 6

$10,000+ (CONTINUED) Dr. Marla Polger Huttner and Dr. Kenneth Huttner Bowie Jacobson Rachel and Bruce Jeffer & the Harris C. Jeffer Foundation Neil Kadisha Fernanda and Marcelo Kalim Susan and Daniel Kane Marjorie and Harvey Kaplan Meredith and David Kaplan Rikki and Barry Kaplan Hilary and Stewart Karlinsky The Jeanne and Richard Kaskey Foundation Shelly and Michael Kassen Marilyn and Stanley Katz Saul Katz Tati and Ezra Katz Maurice Kaufman The David and Vivienne Kaufman Charitable Trust Gloria Kaylie Keller-Shatanoff Foundation Joy and Joel Kellman Jan and Randy Kessler Linda Keston & Dan Keston E. Leon Kier Shelly and Howard Kivell Dr. Roger D. Klein Arlene and Robert Kogod Dorothy and Sidney Kohl Lisa and Victor Kohn Eydie and Steve Koonin Kooper Fellman Foundation, Howard Kooper and Tom Fellman Rachel, Sarah, Sophie and Leah Krakowski Andrea and Richard Kringstein Cathy Selig Kuranoff and Steve Kuranoff Lynn and Michael Lax Carole and Gary Lazar Beth and Adam Leaderman Maribelle and Stephen Leavitt Carol Lee and Jerry Levin Larry Leeds The Lisa and Michael Leffell Foundation Dr. Ruth and Gerald Legow Douglas Legum Morris Leibowitz Marcia and Alan Leifer David Leinwand Kathy and Richard Leventhal Sabrina and Jahn Levin Carole-Ann and Brahm Levine Renee and Alan Levow JOURNEYS â€˘ ISSUE 12 Ellen and Irwin Levy

Judith and Allyn Levy Lewis Family Trust Susan and Moses Libitzky Brenda and Mark Lichtenstein Jody and David Lippman Lipsitz & Koffman Family Malia and David Litman Patricia and Thomas Loeb Karen and Richard Lombart Eleanor and Morton Lowenthal Michelle and Daniel Lubetzky Lunder Foundation Peter and Paula Lunder Family Caroline Fromm Lurie and Rabbi Brian Lurie Tamar and Milton Maltz Barbara and Robert Margolis Sherry and Harry Maziar Linda and Cary Meadow Jill and Paul Meister Sharon and Simon Mendelson Cindy and Stan Merkin The Mesznik Family Bea and Larry Metzman Janet Meyers and Mark Pollak The Morton H. Meyerson Family Foundation Carol and Paul Miller Jack and Goldie Wolfe Miller Fund Judy and Lester Miller Martha and Larry Miller Susan and Robert Miller Barbara Mines Keira and Farshad MorĂ¨ Sheryl and Peter Morrison David Moscow Berte and Dr. Ike Muslow The Isidore & Penny Myers Foundation Gail and Elliot Norry Jane and David Novick Ahrona and Milton Ohring Halpern Oppenheimer Family Foundation Nedra and Mark Oren Beth and Gregg Paradies Toni and Ronald Paul Donna and David Pelton Arnold S. and Madaleine Penner Family Foundation Pershing Square Foundation, Neri Oxman and Bill Ackman Lisa and Hal Philipson Estate of Gerald Phillips Rebecca Pidgeon and David Mamet Susan and Bruce Pollack Brigitt and Alan Potamkin Lezlie and Miguel Poyastro Jack Prager Tina and Steven Price 7 Sharon and Scott Prince

Lindy and Norman Radow Randhill Cemetery Association Susan and Evan Ratner Susan and Daniel Raynor The Frances and Abraham Reichman Charitable Trust The Myra Reinhard Family Foundation Brenda and Hal Reiter Sheryl and Jim Reuben RM2 Foundation Debbie and Clifton Robbins Aileen and Brian Roberts Jane and Richard Roberts Leslie and Russ Robinson Carlos Smeke Romano Michelle and Doug Rose Penny and David Rosen Barbara and Richard Rosenberg Ruth and Mark Rosenberg Chuck Rosenzweig Helen T. Ross Linda and William Rouse Judy and Arnie Rubenstein Adrienne and Arnold Rubin Lauren and Mark Rubin Michael Rubinoff Debbie and Ricky Rudy Karen Richards Sachs and David A. Sachs Mary Jane Saikin and Stanley Saikin The Samueli Foundation Dr. Claudia and Sandor Samuels Diane and Lee Sandler Wendy and Neil Sandler Kim and Martin Sands Dorothy Saxe Phyllis and Gary Schahet Rebecca and Morty Schaja Mr. and Mrs. Lee Schear Robert Schuckit Suzanne and Martin Schulman Bobbe Schwartz Jaime and Andrew Schwartzberg Zelda Schwebel Michael Scott Donna and Stewart Senter Michael Shables & David Shables Beth Scharfman-Shabto and Uri Shabto Diane and Fred Shaftman Annette and Leonard Shapiro Jennifer and Bram Shapiro The Shapiro Foundation Shear Family Foundation Deborah and Gary Shedlin Faye and Irwin Siegel Laurie Silvers and Mitchell Rubenstein Klara and Larry Silverstein Herbert Simon Family Foundation Michelle and Gary Simon

Gilda Slifka Rosalyn and Richard Slifka Sara and Joshua Slocum Marian Scheuer Sofaer and Hon. Abraham Sofaer Sokolof Foundation The Samuel and Helene Soref Foundation Murray Spain Tracey and Shanin Specter Stephanie and Lee Spiegel Tracy and James Sprayregen Jessica Goldman Srebnick and Scott Srebnick Nancy Stark and Stanley Iezman Karla and Lawrence Steinberg Helen Marie Stern Fund Donna and Harvey Sternberg Harriet Sternlicht Beverly Sternlieb Marla and David Susser Swieca Family Roselyne Chroman Swig Regina and Israel Tapoohi Joseph and Arlene Taub Foundation Shelley and Joel Tauber William and Anna Tenenblatt Foundation Michelle Tillem and Chris Sims Carol and Norman Traeger Holly and Jeffrey Ullman Santiago Vazquez Esther and David Vered Keren and Robert Vishny Mr. Henri and Mrs. Lila Wagmann Wagner Family Foundation Nadine and Arthur Waldbaum Lisa and Neil Wallack Dr. Audrey Weiner and Dr. Jeffrey Solomon Ellen and Steven Weinstein Melody Howe Weintraub and Jerald Weintraub Wellner Family Debbie and Richard Wilpon Judith and Fred Wilpon Winn Family Charitable Foundation Karen and Gary Winnick Andi and Larry Wolfe Samantha Wolofsky and Evan Feinberg Marilyn and Walter Wolpin Anita and Ronald Wornick Judy Yavitz and Mark Jurish Diane and Howard Zack & Family Helen and David Zalik Lois and Andrew Zaro Clifford Zeifman May and Richard Ziman Etta and Raymond Zimmerman Rochelle and David Zohn Anonymous (7) 8

BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FELLOWS

Leading The Way 9

“So, let’s go around the room and introduce ourselves by saying our names, where we’re from, our most memorable Birthright Israel moment, how each of us defines our Jewish identity, a value that represents how we live our lives, and what each of us is hoping to get out of being here at Birthright Israel Fellows.” And, this is how it begins… Once a year, the team at Birthright Israel partners together with The iCenter, and together we run an elite-level madrichim (Hebrew for “staff”) training seminar for approximately 100 current, and future, Birthright Israel trip leaders from across North America. Over 3 ½ days, Fellows are introduced to some of the best Israel educators in the world and are immersed within an intentional learning environment designed to affect Jewish meaning-making. What participants walk away with is a fresh perspective on what their role as madrichim can be, and a fuller understanding of the educational philosophy that guides every aspect of a Birthright Israel trip. Arriving at the training seminar, each Birthright Israel Fellow brings with them their own unique Jewish and Israel story. Building upon these stories and working with each Fellow to become more comfortable in relating them is something that we focus on during our time together. We view storytelling as a critically important tool in any educator’s toolbelt, and we believe that this skill will enable staff to become better mentors JOURNEYS • ISSUE 12

to their future trip participants, who, we hope, will then begin to consider their own narratives and place within the ongoing story of Israel and the Jewish people.

THE GOAL OF BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FELLOWS The goal of the training program is to provide our trip participants with the most meaningful gift we can offer by ensuring that their trip leaders are in the truest sense of the term “positive Jewish role models.” Although our educational viewpoints stem from a participant-centered approach, we know that it is the staff team who will make or break any trip. In the parlance of Forrest Gump, a bus full of Birthright Israel participants is “like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” But, in terms of who leads our trips, this is a variable that we can control by investing our time and resources into helping our madrichim become the best Jewish experiential educators as is possible. Birthright Israel Fellows builds upon the work of our Institute for Tour Educators in Israel by creating a more holistic educational team. Recognizing the need for complementary and contextualized voices on the trip, Birthright Israel Fellows are trained to bring context to content and to offer a North American articulation of the themes and values introduced while in Israel.

THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY

THE IMPACT OF VALUES - BASED LEARNING

The most recent cohort of Birthright Israel Fellows took place on February 23-26, 2020 at the Kona Kai Resort & Spa in San Diego, CA. About 50% of this group was comprised of Jewish professionals - including many who work on-andoff college campuses or within their local community. Of the non-Jewish professionals in attendance, they included doctors, lawyers, engineers, students, teachers, graphic designers, entrepreneurs, and sales representatives, amongst other professions. Fellows’ ages ranged from 22 to 62 and spanned the spectrum of Jewish identity and affiliation.

In a profound way, the community building that takes place at Birthright Israel Fellows – between the madrichim and the staff and faculty – embodies what we strive to make happen on every Birthright Israel trip. And, even though the training only lasts a third of the time of a 10-day trip, the end goals are the same. (Lack of sleep, being the one exception!) The common trait between them – the introduction of Jewish values, in this case, kehillah, or community.

Having such a diverse group of individuals may be somewhat unique in the Jewish educational world, but it’s nothing new to those familiar with Birthright Israel. In fact, the diversity of our madrichim is very much a reflection of who Birthright Israel participants tend to be – with all their varied identities, backgrounds, and viewpoints. This inclusive environment, which promotes “unity,” but not necessarily “uniformity,” offers a unique landscape in which these formal and informal Jewish educators are able to learn together and form Jewish community.

Establishing a connection between universal, personal, and Jewish values on a Birthright Israel trip offers participants a way to associate larger takeaways from their experience. And, just as with the formation of their new bus community, this is only one of many Jewish values that are actualized on a Birthright Israel trip. The introduction of these values should be understood as being linchpins in the success of the shared group experience. In addition to helping participants form the tangible memories which they will take home, these values will also act as guideposts for our alumni as they continue along on their lifelong Jewish journeys.

MODELING SUCCESS Though we love to hear stories of positive outcomes, we don’t rely purely upon anecdotal or even empirical-based evidence that our training seminars are accomplishing the goals we’ve set. Instead, we hire research companies to analyze our efforts. To date, these evaluations have shown consistently, that our trained madrichim are having increasingly positive impacts on the trip experiences of our participants, and that these positive viewpoints are more widely held on trips where at least one of the staff is a Birthright Israel Fellow. Since its launch in August of 2014, Birthright Israel Fellows have staffed more than 1,500 trips. In 2019 alone, Fellows were madrichim on over 300 buses, which accounted for 35% of all North American groups. Birthright Israel Fellows is part of a larger framework of madrichim training programs that we are modeling across the globe. Similar programs occur with local partners in the former Soviet Union, Germany, France, Argentina, and Brazil. To ensure that all of them are similar in content, we have now adopted a “shared language” and core set of principles that are to be introduced and understood by all staff and educators. These concepts include things like “Ritualizing Time and Space,” “Framing the Ongoing Jewish Journey,” “Giving Voice to the Experience,” and “Using Themes and Values to Create Meaningful Learning.”

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THE ONGOING JEWISH JOURNEY

An Activity For Home OVERVIEW: We’ve modified this activity so that you can participate in one of the ways Birthright Israel Fellows promote meaningful discussions into the trip experience. This exercise is one that anyone can lead and offers a window into the diversity of thought, perspectives, and narratives that exist on Birthright Israel. It provides a values-based approach to facilitating conversations around such diversity. We hope that you enjoy this activity from the comfort of your home!

MATERIALS: • A deck of cards with a value on each (see opposing page) • Discussion questions

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS: Part 1: Spread the deck of values cards on a table (or on the floor) and invite your friends, family, or guests to choose a value that resonates with them. Once they have chosen their value, they should sit in groups with others who chose the same card.

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Within these smaller groups, discuss the following questions: » What does this value mean to you? » How is this value expressed in your everyday life? » Where have you seen this value represented in Israel? Repeat this process, giving everyone the chance to explore 2-3 different values cards. Before moving on to the next part, ask people to share with the larger group some of the conversations they’ve been having. Part 2: An important part of this activity is creating an environment that helps to build an inclusive and supportive community. In this next step, everyone should consider the value of “community” and the place that it holds in your lives. Again, in small groups, spend time answering the same questions as before. Make sure to allow enough time to ensure that everyone gets to consider questions 2 and 3. Wrap Up: Exploring our relationships with Israel through the timeless lens of Jewish values helps turn the timely experience of Birthright Israel into something longer lasting. By helping participants connect their values to their experiences throughout Israel, we can ensure that their Jewish journeys extend beyond the 7 or 10-day trip itself.

MEMORY

COMMUNITY

DIVERSITY

‫קהילה‬

‫גיוון‬

TRADITION

PEOPLEHOOD

HOPE

‫זיכרון‬

‫מסורת‬

‫עמיות‬

‫תקווה‬

KNOWLEDGE

COMPASSION

TRUTH

‫ידע‬

‫חמלה‬

‫אמת‬

JUSTICE

AMBITION

PRIDE

‫צדק‬

‫שאפתנות‬

‫גאווה‬

SPIRITUALITY

MODESTY

HUMILITY

‫צניעות‬

‫עניווה‬

PLURALISM

RESPONSIBILITY

GRATITUDE

‫פלורליזם‬

‫אחריות‬

‫הכרת הטוב‬

‫רוחניות‬

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Birthright Israel IT’S AN UNFORGETTABLE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Each Birthright Israel trip has a unique itinerary based on travel dates, interests, and educational elements. Though Birthright Israel offers many niche opportunities, one thing is constant: Birthright Israel is the largest educational program in the history of the Jewish people, making it an experience like no other. Using Israel as our classroom, we impart knowledge, connections, and community one participant at a time. Get to know the magic of Birthright Israel, as experienced by participants, through this sample itinerary. Look for the

to better understand our educational framework and the secret to its success!

Day 1 Meet your trip staff, new lifelong friends, and try to get some shut-eye for the adventure ahead! Birthright Israel trip staff are crucial to the educational programming and a participant’s experience both as an individual and in a group setting, making the overall impact profound. Turn to page 12 to learn more.

Day 2

Day 4 Take in the magnificent views of the Golan Heights atop Mt. Bental and taste the rich flavors of Israeli wine. Then, take a nap on the bus as we make our way to Jerusalem, where we will end the day discussing the complexities of the region with leading geopolitical experts. While the Birthright Israel program is apolitical, Birthright Israel believes it is educationally vital to help participants learn about and reflect upon the core issues in the region by introducing a geopolitical module into the experience. Through a geopolitical lecture led by experts in the field, we introduce and discuss openly, key issues necessary for understanding the region.

6,500 miles later, you’re home! Travel north and see the historic Sea of Galilee. Spend the evening conversing and connecting as you are joined by your Israeli peers (Mifgashim). The Mifgash is one of the most transformative elements of Birthright Israel. In Hebrew, Mifgash means encounter, and during every trip, participants are given an opportunity to meet Israeli soldiers and Israeli young professionals as a unique way to experience the culture.

Day 3 3 Day It wouldn’t be a Birthright Israel trip without a hike up one of Israel’s northern mountains to kick off the morning. Next up is the magical, mystical and mountainous city of Tzfat, where you will be inspired by the work of Kabbalistic artists.

Day 5 5 Day Hold your escaping breath as you take in an unrivaled panoramic view of Jerusalem. Get your pen and paper ready as we make our way to The Kotel – we promise you will never forget this moment. Where better to spend Shabbat than in the place that’s been the heartbeat of the Jewish people for over 3,000 years. Birthright Israel presents Shabbat as a Core Theme, seeing it as a meaningful and joyous cornerstone of the Jewish calendar and world-view. Being in Israel offers unique ways of emphasizing Shabbat within various contexts, such as community, learning, landscape, and a sense of spirituality, which many participants have not heretofore experienced.

Sample Itinerary Day 6

Enjoy a traditional Shabbat meal before heading out on a relaxing stroll through Jerusalem’s mesmerizing limestone alleys and blossoming parks. Take the evening to explore Ben Yehuda Street with your bus mates.

Day 7 A solemn, soulful visit to the Yad Vashem Memorial and Museum. It is our goal to provide young Jewish adults a meaningful and well-contextualized encounter with the Shoah, its place in Jewish life and in Israel, as well as part of the broader Jewish narrative in the modern era. Participants may visit Yad Vashem or another Shoah site during the Birthright Israel program. Visit Mt. Herzl where you’ll learn about the founders, visionaries and fallen heroes that made Israel a reality. A core mission of Birthright Israel is to give participants an opportunity to understand Israel’s founding vision to be a Jewish and democratic state. Mt. Herzl represents an important piece of the Jewish narrative and those who fought to preserve it.

Day 8 Climb the Roman Ramp to the top of Masada to catch a sunrise that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Then, tour the mountaintop fortress that became synonymous with Jewish audacity and bravery. The climb to the top of Masada is more than just a hike. When participants reach the top and learn the history of the mountain they are standing on, they truly begin to understand the determination and cohesiveness of the Jewish people. Frolic in the refreshing waters of Ein Gedi, a literal oasis in the desert. And now the moment you’ve been waiting for the entire trip – it’s time to float in the Dead Sea and roll in exfoliating and revitalizing mineral mud.

Day 9 9 Day

Hello Tel Aviv! Cultural, business and party capital of Israel! Discuss and reflect on Israel’s ideas, values and future at Rabin Square. The afternoon is yours to explore the hustle and bustle of the White City markets, shops and busy streets. Stroll through the quaint Jaffa seaport, a true model of peace and co-existence.

Day 10 Visit the The Center for Israeli Innovation by Birthright Israel, meet with local entrepreneurs and see how it’s become the Silicon Valley of the Middle East. Israel is a prominent player in the global arena of innovation, entrepreneurship, science, and technology; however, this dimension is less familiar to young Jewish adults today. Birthright Israel believes showcasing this characteristic of the Jewish homeland is crucial to young Jews gaining a deeper understanding of Israeli society and how the country is a leader in global activism through these fields. You’ve made friends, you’ve learned a Hebrew word or two or maybe even three, you’ve grown, you’ve discovered, you’ve experienced, you’ve found yourself, you’ve reflected, and you’ll never be the same!

"You aren't prepared for how much you'll learn in 10 days." - SYDNEY GOLDBERG, 2019 ALUMNA

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14 14

5 WAYS BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL CHANGED ME AS AN ISRAELI

As a Birthright Israel Madrich, volunteer, and Mifgash, you could say that my journey began six years ago when I was asked to go on a five-day paid military vacation. Little did I know, this trip would turn out to be one of the most impactful moments of my life. Growing up, I lived in the small suburban town of Hod Hasharon, Israel. Both of my parents were natives of the town, and all of my extended family members lived close by. I didn’t get the chance to meet Jews who were not Israelis while growing up. Even the term “Diaspora Jews” was, for me, something applicable to a history class. As an Israeli, you might think about how I could possibly be impacted by a Birthright Israel trip, but I can think of five different ways the trip played a role in my life. Here you go:

1. SEEING ISRAEL THROUGH ANOTHER’S EYES Two weeks after my commander said I was going on Taglit (the Hebrew name for Birthright Israel), I joined an American group in Tel Aviv. In the beginning, it was very awkward, as the participants asked me a lot of questions, and I tried to answer them in broken English to the best of my ability. On the way to Jerusalem, one of the Americans told me that he was the first in his family to go to our destination. He said his grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, gave him a note to put in the Kotel.

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I think that’s when I started to realize the importance of the trip—that all the places that I, as an Israeli, had taken for granted were, for other people, places of inspiration. From that moment on, I started to see Israel through their eyes. On the same night we arrived, we had Shabbat services. I remember being shocked at seeing a woman reading from the Torah AND wearing a yarmulke—even, god forbid, reading the Kaddish. I don’t consider myself a religious person, but growing up in Israel, I learned that there was only one way to be Jewish and one way to pray. It was what I was taught in school and what I applied in Synagogue. As I saw this participant, my own age, reading from the Torah, and leading the service with incredible passion and knowledge that I could only dream of, I opened my eyes to new ways of celebrating my identity.

2. FOSTERING REAL CONNECTIONS On the last night of our trip, a speaker gave us an update on the political situation in the Middle East. During the presentation, he asked if anyone had been influenced back at home by the situation in Israel. I was overwhelmed by the responses as participants spoke about demonstrations against Israel at their universities, apartheid walls, BDS, and mock checkpoints at their campuses. I raised my hand and talked about my military role as a liaison between the Israelis and the Palestinians and how, as part of my position, I was in charge of giving medical visas to Palestinian kids so that they could get heart surgeries in Israeli hospitals.

The lessons that I learned and the discoveries that I made during Birthright Israel were valuable. However, what had the most significant effect on me was the friends I gained during the journey. How people from two different countries and who hardly spoke the same language could connect in just five days still astounds me to this day. I like to believe that the journey of self-discovery that every participant goes through during Birthright Israel becomes a group discovery and produces deep, meaningful connections.

3. BECOMING A SHALIACH AT UC SAN DIEGO After the trip and my release from duty, I chose to continue the journey that started on Birthright Israel. I was selected by the Jewish Agency to serve as an Emissary (Shaliach) at the University of California San Diego. My role was to bring Israel to campus by providing education about Israel and fighting those who try to delegitimize the Jewish state. Just a year after my trip, I was able to help the same students who had talked about their campus experiences during my Birthright Israel trip. During my two years as an emissary at UCSD, I was fortunate to see the effect Birthright Israel had in the college life of the participants. Together with Hillel, I led four trips with students from UCSD. The shared experiences and the deep connections that the students (who often did not know each other) created in Israel, lead to small communities of Jewish friends that blossomed throughout their college years. Many of these participants continued to be leaders of the Jewish organizations on campus, such as Hillel and the Jewish Student Union, and even more of them decided to continue their journey with a study abroad or an internship program in Israel.

4. EMBRACING ISRAELI CHUTZPA Birthright Israel opened up other doors in my life as well. While leading the trips, I saw that besides the usual shawarma and falafel, there was one specific drink that the students LOVED. It was a frozen coffee drink known in Israel as IceCaffe. I was surprised when I realized that the drink didnâ€™t exist in America. So, with a little bit of Israeli chutzpa, we opened up an Israeli iced coffee booth at different festivals in San Diego. Long story short, Froffee is in almost 500 stores throughout the West Coast today, and we expect to be in 1,000 stores by the end of this year. Birthright Israel not only helped me shape my identity but also gave me the idea for my business. While I was launching Froffee, I also started the First Israeli Moishe House in Los Angeles. Our house was dedicated to serving as a bridge between Israelis and Jewish Americans who are currently in America.

5. FINDING MY OWN JEWISH IDENTITY Looking back, I realize that Birthright Israel opened my eyes to a whole new world of Judaism. The conversations, relationships, and, most importantly, the shared exploration of our roots led me on a journey toward discovering my own Jewish identity. For that, I want to thank Birthright Israel. Thank you for changing the lives of thousands of Israelis who have learned to value their country and their religion through the eyes of others.

JOURNEYS â€˘ ISSUE 12

How donating to

Birthright Israel Foundation makes Life-Changing Experiences possible

Growing up around Holocaust deniers and anti-Semites, Cole Keister often felt different because he was Jewish. The kids at his rural Oregon school called him a “kike” or a “dirty Jew.” One even gave him a bible and invited him to church to be “saved.”

Together, We Are Changing Misconceptions

Upon returning from Birthright Israel in college, Keister no longer felt different. Instead, he said that he felt like “a weight was gone that I didn’t realize was there in the first place.” He went on to become the president of a pro-Israel group at Portland State University.

However, an excess of geopolitical rhetoric about Israel and Judaism is drowning out the truth. As a result:

Over the last 20 years, Birthright Israel Foundation has gifted more than 750,000 young Jewish adults like Keister with a transformative trip to Israel. While not all participants become pro-Israel activists, the vast majority return home with a strengthened connection to their heritage, peoplehood, and the Jewish state. There are participants like Tori Greene, who thought Judaism was a bore. After Birthright Israel, she also took on an active role in Jewish life at the University of South Florida. “Birthright Israel is the red phosphorus on a box of matches that you strike a match against to ignite a flame,” she said. “I knew from this point out it was my responsibility to keep this flame going.” Others, like Carly Rapaport and Alex Vargas, found their bashert (soulmate) on Birthright Israel. The now-married couple lived only six miles apart in Boston but met 5,000 miles away in the Holy Land. Thanks to nearly two decades of gifts from Birthright Israel Foundation, there are tons of alumni stories like these. Every year, nearly 48,000 Jewish young adults from around the world, with little or no attachment to Israel and Judaism, accept our life-changing gift to claim their birthright.

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In many ways, the Jewish Diaspora is more connected than ever. Technology has put the world at our fingertips, opening our eyes and minds to endless possibilities.

•

Jews of all ages across the globe continue to face anti-Semitism and hate crimes.

• The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found that 61 percent of Americans agree with at least one Jewish stereotype. • Tensions on college campuses are at a fever pitch due to increased support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and anti-Semitic sentiment. Birthright Israel Foundation provides young Jewish adults with a sense of home and solidarity by giving them the tools to separate fact from fiction and speak truthfully of Israel to others. According to a Brandeis University study, participants of Birthright Israel experience a strengthened: •

Understanding of the current situation in Israel

•

Connection to Israel and their Jewish peers

•

Jewish identity

The study also found that a majority of Birthright Israel participants called the trip “one of the best experiences of my life.” Participant, Rabbi David Levy, had no special feelings about Israel when he accepted the gift of his birthright more than 18 years ago. “Birthright Israel changed me forever,” he said, noting, “my trip was a crucial step in my becoming a rabbi today.” 17

Still not convinced? Brandeis University has been studying the long-term effects of Birthright Israel since the program’s inception. The numbers speak for themselves: Birthright Israel Participant Responses 54 percent say it’s important to marry someone Jewish

40 percent are more likely to have Jewish friends

74 percent feel a connection to Israel

85 percent consider it a life-changing experience

Together, We Are Changing the World

Those we send on Birthright Israel each year are just a fraction of the greater global Jewish population. There are currently 1.4 million Jewish millennials (ages 18 to 34) in the United States and an estimated 1.6 million Jewish children under the age of 18. As emerging adults, those who are eligible for Birthright Israel (ages 18 to 26) are typically at a point in their life when they are seeking answers and looking for purpose. That’s why now is the time to encourage their Jewishness and foster their bond with our ancestral homeland. While Israel may not be a young Jewish adult’s first-choice destination, Birthright Israel Foundation eliminates the financial burden of travel, making it easy for them to connect with their roots—irrespective of personal background, political views, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender identity. What’s more, Birthright Israel caters its trips to participants’ interests, offering classic and themed trips, including: Active Professional Culinary

Birthright Israel participant Monroe Marshall is part of the transgender community. His 2017 trip enabled him to explore the intersectionality of his Jewish and LGBTQ+ identities. While he will always acknowledge himself as a Jewish American, “I now know that Israel always has a place for me, a place where I can have pride in who I am.” Aaron Kaufman, who has cerebral palsy, participated in the No Limits Birthright Israel trip. It not only strengthened his love for Israel but helped him accept his disability. Afterwards, he started a job with the Jewish Federations of North America in Washington, DC, where he lobbies on behalf of disability issues. As a 2014 Mifgash (Israeli participant), Shavit Rootman has a unique perspective on these Israel pilgrimages. “Birthright Israel is not merely a 10-day trip,” he said. “Instead, it brings Jewish people from all over the world to realize that they have a family to which they belong.” Our job, by the way, doesn’t end once our participants get home. That’s why we partner with several Jewish organizations, such as Hillel International and The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), to help our alumni continue their Jewish journey. Alumni are privy to our fellowship and business internship programs, and much more. We also run a program to send 27 to 32-year-olds on Birthright Israel.

Together, We Are Changing the Jewish Future One Trip at a Time

Will you help us fulfill our mission to ensure a vibrant future for the Jewish people? Donate today so we can give the gift of a Birthright Israel trip to every eligible young Jewish adult out there. Together we can engage generation after generation to ensure the future of the Jewish people forever.

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To give today visit: brif.gift/journeys12

birthright israel Love story: jane and vitaly We spoke the same language, but the Israelis seemed to smile in a different way. They never gave me a simple answer to any question! That’s what I liked the most about them. And of course, one of those Israelis that didn’t have simple answers, was Vitaly, my now husband. “The second day of the trip, I looked to one of the other Israelis, my friend, and said do you think she would be interested in me? He looked at me and said, you don’t have a chance. But I sat next to her on the bus anyways,” says Vitaly.

o Growing up in Kiev, Ukraine, I knew absolutely nothing about Israel, Jewish culture, and I definitely had no sense of belonging to the Jewish people. As a post-Soviet Jewish girl, you can imagine all of these were things my family never spoke about. So, when I signed up for Birthright Israel, I never dreamed I’d meet my husband. Of course, I’m sure you’re wondering how it all happened! So, here it is: When I learned about Birthright Israel I was backpacking in Egypt. Then one day, I was scrolling through Facebook and got an ad for Birthright Israel – and that is was free. At first, I thought this had to be a scam. However, I was Jewish, in Egypt, and thought, if there is anywhere to believe in miracles, it’s here. I posted on my own Facebook page asking if anyone else heard of Birthright Israel. It turns out I got many comments about how amazing it was. So, I asked my father for all of the documents I needed for the application. Then, he then finally told me a story of our Jewish ancestry. His parents actually changed their name from Freedland to something less Jewish sounding to avoid anti-Semitism. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. My father still faced prejudice from schoolteachers and university admissions offices when he was younger. After I applied and was accepted, I did a very Jewish thing, I went back to Israel from Egypt (you can laugh!). When my trip first started, I was surprised to meet 40 other people with very similar stories and backgrounds to mine. I also met Israelis whose parents moved from the Former Soviet Union to Israel or they themselves emigrated as children. I was impressed with how different and how similar I was to the Israeli participants.

Vitaly and I sat on the bus together a lot. When we spoke, I only became more interested in his thoughts. When my trip was over and I was back in Ukraine, I still had many questions. I ended up packing my bags and returning to Israel only a few weeks later to spend more time with Vitaly. We’re now married and we still don’t have any simple answers, but at least we are trying to find them together. Today, we live in Tel Aviv and come together with three generations of my husband’s family almost every week for Shabbat. When we are not with family, we enjoy Shabbat dinner with our friends. We love hosting my family and friends who visit Israel, where we remove the stereotypes and show them the real Israel as they experience pieces of our lives. If we are not with friends or family, we are working on our smart door lock startup, Locklare. And if I’m not busy with all of this, I’m a freelance photographer and enjoy photographing Birthright Israel trips. Birthright Israel helped me to discover my Jewish roots and Jewish identity. I never imagined my life would change forever when I signed up for this trip. Thank you to everyone who made it possible.

Sprinkle Cookie A Kiddush

you'll absolutely love

It’s the cookie any American Jew knows and absolutely loves – the Kiddush cookie. Sometimes known as a sprinkle or confetti cookie too. This light-colored mound of goodness is complete with colorful sprinkles. You may even find them dipped in chocolate and then covered in sprinkles! They are showcased in synagogues around America on Saturday mornings post-Shabbat services and are always out for the High Holidays. However, eating these cookies in the synagogue may not be a reality this year, so we encourage you to try something new and make them at home! The kids and, of course, the adults will love dipping the cookies in sprinkles. The recipe below is from Birthright Israel Fellow, David Ratz. David has been whipping these cookies up at home for years and says this is an activity for anyone in the family.

What You Need

2 cups of flour 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda 1/2 teaspoon of salt 1 1/2 sticks of butter or margarine (room temperature) 1/2 cup of sugar 1/2 cup of powdered sugar 1/4 cup of oil 1 egg 2 teaspoons of vanilla 2 cups of sprinkles

What You Do 1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Cream butter, sugar, and powdered sugar. 3. Add the egg and then the oil. 4. Mix the baking soda, salt, and vanilla together until incorporated into the egg and oil. 5. Add flour and chill in the fridge for 1 hour. 6. Roll into tablespoon-sized balls roughly 40 grams and then roll in the sprinkles. 7. Bake for 20 minutes and then cool on a wired rack. JOURNEYS • ISSUE 12

HOW A FREE TRIP TO ISRAEL SAVED MY MENTAL HEALTH BY CONNOR JACOBSON • WASHINGTON, DC 2020 BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL ALUMNUS

There are many different reasons to go on Birthright Israel. However, to me, they are all secondary to the honest answer: it’s a free trip to Israel! My father always told me nothing in this world comes completely free, so I figured there was a sales pitch coming my way. I was a half-Jewish free agent of the religious world. This trip was clearly designed, I assumed, to convince people like me to be “more Jewish.” Well, it happened. I drank the Kool-Aid. You know what also happened? I am much happier than I have ever been in my life. To frame how amazing that statement is, let me give you some context.

BATTLING ANXIETY & DEPRESSION I have battled with depression and anxiety since entering adulthood. Yet, even in my darkest days I always believed it was a matter of time before things got better. I kept searching for new unknown variables that could reduce my mental, emotional, and physical pain. One night in June 2019, I hit a breaking point of sustained hopelessness and realized a drastic change needed to be made to stop the seven-year downward spiral. So, I called family and friends to open up about my mental health. Twelve hours later I walked into my manager’s office and handed him my resignation letter. Two weeks later I was in a car leaving my life behind in Chicago to move in with my parents in Maryland. I didn’t have a contingency plan or any idea what came next, but I knew I had to stop wandering aimlessly and look at the map if I wanted to find my way out of the metaphorical forest. For six months, my depression worsened each week I was in Maryland. I regressed to the point I was emotionally unrecognizable, swept under a wave of mental health woes. Although it was great being with family, I felt isolated and disconnected from the rest of the world. The moments I had enough energy to leave my bed were increasingly rare, though I did jump up with excitement whenever I had the opportunity to spend time with my 1-year-old nephew down the road. Seeing him smile and laugh was the brightest light that raised my spirit each week. I have never cared more about anyone or anything in my life than I do that kid. All the pain was worth it to be a part of his life, and he became the first new variable that sustainably took away my pain.

JOURNEYS • ISSUE 12

AND MY FREE TRIP TO ISRAEL BEGINS Then came the long-awaited free trip to Israel. As any depressed person does, I didn’t start shopping and packing until a few hours before the flight. Running 45 minutes late for check-in, I got into the car sweating profusely with an anxiety attack. Still, I walked into the airport like I owned the place. I showed the outside world the version of myself that is on my resume, not the one I see in the mirror. From that point forward a miracle happened. It was something I had never experienced in my life. Over the next 10 days, those two versions of myself gradually became one. The gap was closing between what the rational and emotional parts of my brain were telling me to believe. My two older brothers had each taken advantage of this free trip to Israel years before me without any interest in religious practice. The eldest went with his college girlfriend, and the trip strengthened their spiritual bond. They are now six years into a very happy marriage and raising my nephew Jewish. My middle brother had his Bar Mitzvah on his trip and came back with a newfound connection to Judaism. Before mine, I told people that there was very little chance I’d come back with any different religious standing, but I might do the Bar Mitzvah to have a fun story to tell friends. Oh, how wrong I was to think that way. I quickly came to realize how disrespectful it was of me to consider using such an important ceremony as a souvenir with a false commitment. Nevertheless, I still joined the informational sessions with our trip’s rabbi to better understand the process. I figured there was no harm in gathering information, regardless of how unlikely I thought it was that I would be able to commit to Judaism in a matter of 10 days.

BECOMING A BAR MITZVAH Throughout the trip I continued learning, discussing, and reflecting on the decision to have my Bar Mitzvah, but I had plenty of concerns holding me back. First of all, I was supposed to give a Bar Mitzvah speech on what Judaism means to me, but I didn’t have an honest answer yet. I was also afraid of letting my Christian mother down. Most of all, I feared that I was succumbing to the grandeur of Israel, but I wouldn’t be willing to truly commit to Judaism once I returned to reality. These concerns all lingered throughout the trip’s first week. Then at 5:00 AM on Day 8, I woke up in the Bedouin tents with an unusual burst of energy. We hiked Masada and breathed in the fresh air at daybreak. We listened to stories about our Jewish ancestors going out by their own volition instead of letting anyone else choose their fate. 21

I felt cleansed, enlightened, and empowered. On the bus ride from Masada to Jerusalem, I reflected while everyone else slept. In case I decided to go through with my Bar Mitzvah, I started writing out potential topics to discuss. A lightbulb went on in my head. This choice was not going to be just another one in my life that I put off with anxious indecision. I felt the strength to take full control of my own narrative for the first time in my life and to think this all stemmed from a free trip to Israel.

VISITING THE WESTERN WALL AND JERUSALEM We spent Day 9 in the Old City and had 20 minutes at the Western Wall. As I approached it slowly, not knowing what to do or whether I was even worthy of taking up space next to the devout individuals beside me. I stood a couple feet from the wall and closed my eyes. I reflected on the trip and how it fits into the context of my life. After a while, I tried a prayer even though it always felt awkward to use the term “God” without also putting up air quotes to show that my conception of the divine is difficult to sum up with a three-letter word. As I stumbled through different thoughts and prayers, the words in my head started to slowly fall into rhythm. My body inched towards the wall as I gently rocked back and forth. That cadence gradually sped up as I let go of the physical world around me and let my conscience take control. The frantic and uncontrollable thoughts that caused much of my mental strife converged into a single powerful voice. The cadence continued to rapidly speed up as my body and mind were drawn closer to the wall. My inner voice spoke the words “God, please guide me with the tools and strength to be the person I want to be and am meant to be.” At that moment, my forehead and hands fell into the wall as the voice stopped. Everything slowed down. I stood there, connected with something greater than myself. Control over my thoughts returned, but I was unable to move or open my eyes. The powerful choir-like voice of my conscience turned into a reflective solo acapella. A new conception of my best self became apparent, and a new narrative outline began to form. As the solo faded, a bird flew into a bush a few feet above my head and voiced a single chirp. I opened my eyes, stepped back five paces, and turned around as a calm feeling washed over me.

THE BAR MITZVAH CEREMONY We then immediately headed over to Robinson’s Arch, a designated group meeting space behind the wall, where we would hold the B’Nai Mitzvah ceremonies. My time to speak came, and the message was clearer than it ever had been. I started off by discussing how I’ve always struggled with understanding my identity, especially as a half-Jew. I’ve been bullied and excluded throughout my life because Christians see me as an outsider, and Jews didn’t see me as part of the tribe because my mother wasn’t Jewish. I told the group how this was one of many factors leading to seven years of depression and anxiety issues. It was the first time I opened up about my mental health on the trip, and everyone understandably looked surprised since they had only seen the charismatic version of myself that I wanted them to see. Secondly, I also opened up about hitting a low point six months prior and leaving my life behind to let my family try to fix me. Back then, I would never have thought that the family to restore

my happiness would be a new one I met halfway around the world. I’ve focused this story on my personal journey, but I cannot begin to express how much I owe to my 48 companions on the trip. Every day felt like a year of relationships developed, and we definitely shared a decade’s worth of meaningful conversations, uncontrollable laughter, and loving support. They will always be my second family, and I will always feel closely bonded to them.

BECOMING A PROUD JEW Not only did this free trip to Israel connect me to the Jewish community, but it opened my eyes for the first time to earnestly learn about Jewish beliefs, culture, and traditions. What I once assumed was an antiquated religion, I now see for its long history of perseverance, progression, and universal wisdom. Birthright Israel also led me to a new life perspective. Because of this experience, I no longer define myself first by my depression or label myself as an “other.” I walked away from Israel as a proud Jewish man with a long, bright future ahead of me. Now, I am living that committed Jewish life back in reality. In addition to reading books and doing research on Judaism, I have taken every opportunity I can find to expand my Jewish family. wI joined a Jewish mindful masculinity discussion group, hosted my first ever Shabbat, and organized weekly virtual Shabbat happy hours for my Birthright Israel group. I regularly attend sessions hosted by GatherDC to learn and connect with other Jews, and GatherDC even made me their Jew of the Week in mid-March.

FACING A NEW NORMAL When the world finds a new normal after the COVID-19 pandemic settles down, I also hope to become a Birthright Israel trip leader and get involved with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Young Leadership team. Last, but certainly not least, a purely platonic Birthright Israel friendship turned into a blossoming romantic relationship a couple months after the trip. Suffice to say, my previous Judaism commitment concern has not been an issue thus far. Due to COVID-19, we are currently living in a quarantined world injected with high levels of insecurity and anxiety. However, I see my future with more certainty than ever before. Social-distancing has caused historically high numbers of people feeling isolated and depressed, but I feel more connected and truly happier than I ever have. An unprecedented global crisis may be all around me, but my internal crisis is gone for the foreseeable future. Birthright Israel came at the exact right moment that I needed it. I signed up for this free trip to Israel and I arrived in a state of internal crisis, yet I was defiantly guarded against being convinced to think or live differently. I left Israel with a new sense of self-value, in full control of my narrative, and guided by a structured community that enables me to learn more about myself and contribute to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). I’ve learned how to be skeptical but also willing to let myself go and reflect afterward. When I appreciate the details and focus on the process, I know that understanding the big picture and seeing the results will come in time. Everyone’s journey is different, and my story may very well be unique, but I’ve seen the possibility of what Birthright Israel can do for a person. This is a free trip to Israel that could change your life. If that isn’t a good enough sales pitch for Birthright Israel, I don’t know what is.

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• Substantial annual tax-free payments. By establishing a Birthright Israel Charitable Gift Annuity you will support: • The leading educational program for Jewish young adults worldwide. • The life-changing gift of an educational experience in Israel for the next Jewish generation.

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Learn more about charitable gift annuities at www.birthrightisrael.us/futures or contact Ruvym Gilman, Associate VP of Legal Affairs & Business Operations at 646-833-1311 or ruvym.gilman@birthrightisrael.org for a confidential personalized calculation.