Israel trip inspires

By Benjamin Kogan

My name is Benjamin Kogan, and my first trip to Israel was with my school, Brandeis Hebrew Academy this past February. My experience in Israel was breathtaking — from the drives we took, to the hike up to Masada. I feel that everyone, no matter religion or age, should visit Israel.

An especially important part of Israel is the culture of the country, the people, and how welcoming they are. Everybody treats you as if you are a local. Our tour guide treated us like family and even gave us gifts at the end of the trip that represented each of the students. The people of Israel are one of the most welcoming people I have ever met.

Being Jewish, traveling to Israel and being surrounded by fellow Jews who are proud of their heritage was such an emotional experience. Praying at the Kotel (Western Wall) in the Old City was an experience I will never forget. In America, I have felt proud of my Jewish heritage from my time at Brandeis, which always incorporates a love of Israel. But while in Israel, I felt a sense of pride no matter where in the country we traveled.

The Israel Defense Forces gives everyone in Israel a sense of security and promise that the Jewish state is safe from terrorism. Every year at Brandeis, students meet IDF soldiers who share their stories, but meeting them on their land and seeing what it is they protect made me realize that these men and women are only a few years older than me. Their bravery inspires me to become more involved in the Jewish state.

Some of my favorite parts of Israel were the humbling sights and attractions including Masada, the old city of Jerusalem, and the modern city of Tel Aviv. The hike up to Masada was one of my favorite parts of our school trip.

Seeing the old fort where the Jewish zealots lived for years while fighting the Romans was very interesting. The most shocking part of this site was the technology used in the fort, like the irrigation system and the large water tanks used to store thousands of gallons of water.

My trip to Israel was incredibly special, and being able to share this with my closest friends of so many years created memories that I will never forget. This experience also brought me closer to God.

Source: Israel21c.org

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