Free 10 day trip in Israel - Winter 2011 or Summer 2012
Check back for more updates and information soon or contact Rabbi Baruch Plotkin bplotkin@miami.edu

Julia Rubin 
My trip to Israel was an incredible and life-changing experience, I can’t say enough good things about it. I didn’t really know what to expect coming into it, but it definitely exceeded all expectations. The unity of the Israeli people- their story, their past, their shared sacred bond- was so inspiring and one of the things that makes it so unique as a country, and I can now see as a main reason for so many people to make aliyah. This aspect of the culture made us, 40 American students most of who had never been to Israel, feel welcome and at home. Getting to meet the Israeli soldiers made the trip that much better because they brought so much to the group and really drove home the concept of how important patriotism is to the Israeli people.

But this was just one aspect of why this trip was so amazing for me. After 10 days of nothing but incredible and eye-opening experiences with 43 new best friends, growing together and learning so much, it just really taught me so much about myself- and much of this newfound realism has to do with my newfound connection with G-d. I knew that this was one of the main reasons I wanted to go on birthright, to connect with my previously unexplored heritage and find a religious identity for myself, and this trip really gave me that. In many instances throughout the trip I felt the presence of G-d so strongly that I couldn’t deny it, and that was a very unfamiliar and quite unexpected realization for me (At the Western wall, looking at the stars in the desert, and watching the sunrise at Masada are three that stand out.)

I really feel like it has changed my life in an immediate sense, but also in a long-term way. I plan on spending many Fridays a month at Hillel. Not only because of my strengthened connection to Judaism and wanting to celebrate this, but also because I really am looking forward to spending time with my 41 new favorite people from the trip. If no other time during the week, that will be one day that I know I can count on to meet up and reign in Shabbat, to come and celebrate together. Looking further into the long-term, I know that I will share this with my children. I used to really respect my parents’ outlook that they would not force religion upon me, but sort of give me some basics and decide my beliefs for myself. But now I realize that without practice, without celebration and discussion and upholding the traditions that have been passed down through generations for thousands of years, that no reiteration of even the most prominent torah story can instill this same sense of belonging that I felt when celebrating those few Shabbat dinners around the table, or that I felt in Israel when at the Kotel with the group, or that I saw in the eyes of a soldier when they were describing their connection to and sense of their country.

I truly cannot wait to return to school in the fall and see all my new friends at Hillel every (well...ok many) Friday night! In a way I think this birthright trip is likely to change the lives of many generations to come, and I cannot thank you guys, Robyn and Baruch as well as all my new Jewish friends, enough for giving me this opportunity and making it as special as it was. As corny as that sounds I mean this from the bottom of my heart...

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         Lili Barash

        I was always someone who wore her Star of David proudly and dreamed for years of going on Birthright. What I found in Israel was not my Jewish identity, which had been growing for years, but a great sense of belonging and community, larger than I had felt anywhere else. It’s this type of closeness that I wish to bring back to the Jewish community at the University of Miami. I wish that people could see that Shabbat isn’t just for religious people; anyone can enjoy a nice dinner filled with story- telling and singing. However, I was mostly surprised at how much I hadn’t realized about Israel, its culture, and its people. I found an understanding for a country that I had always supported, not because of what I actually knew, but because of what other people had told me. Through Hillel, I want to show people the culture and greatness of Israel, not just tell them about it.    

      Aleks Vayntraub
I perceived the Birthright experience to be very similar to how I first perceived college when I was in High School. The common descriptor was that college was going to be "the best four years of your life"! But we all come to realize that college is something you have to experience to truly understand and find meaning through for yourself.

In the same manner, Birthright was something I heard about from numerous friends as "a life-changing experience". But I knew that I could not truly extract meaning for me from the experiences of my peers. I realized that just like college, Birthright was a trip you had to make and experience yourself.

I had many speculations as to what kind of life-changing experience Birthright is, however, I gave the trip a chance to shape me by going in with no expectations.  I think after the first couple of days everyone was in too much disbelief to process all the information our minds absorbed once in Israel.

The greatest emotion I felt those couple of days were disbelief and appreciation, because all my life we would pray and talk about this homeland, and finally at 20 years of age we were actually there in Israel experiencing it.

At about day 3 we were having a reflection outside the walls of Jerusalem I believe, and we were discussing what our favorite part was of the trip so far. I got this sense of pride that we were all there discovering something within ourselves by observing and being a part of Israel collectively. It was magic that the driving force for all of this was our Judaism, just one identifying feature bringing such a diverse group of people to the same place at one time, to reflect.

I think that was one of the most important moments because throughout the rest of the trip this sense of Jewish pride and community fostered and was proving itself as our relationships continued to grow.

These friendships were not typical. There were some love-hate features but we were all in this together and going to remember it together. Nothing serious went down. I saw that we were always there for each other. When Alex thought money was stolen we all tried to calm her down and assured her that it could have been misplaced. And when Cara cried during shabbat Rachel did not think twice to come to her side and comfort her. At the Kotel, one by one, a guy would emerge his face from the Wall teared up and we would give him a big hug and pat of understanding.

We were all happy to be in Israel while we were there and we knew that we were experiencing something experienced just once in a lifetime under these circumstances. I took a lot from the trip. I learned so much about Israel, its history and its culture. One thing I certainly sense different within me is a much stronger tie to the Jewish community.

On campus I would love to be more involved to persuade others to sign up for Birthright and to attend Hillel or Chabad for Shabbos. It is important to make something of your Judaism and to be proud of this identity.

I also have a greater appreciation for my life. Witnessing that boys and girls just like myself are in the army right now instead of experiencing college is very shocking. This makes me feel so lucky and cherish every moment I have and live the most fulfilling way possible.

A final significant impact the trip has left me with is a love for Israel. I was humbled to be in Israel so much and I was so impacted by their similar way of life, I am strongly compelled to study abroad through UGalilee. Israel can impact me further and continue to turn me into a more insightful person.

      Jenn Levin

  B  Birthright was truly an incredible experience! Words can’t even begin to describe the memories, friendships, and experiences I had during the trip’s ten short days. I left New York on the plane to Israel as a practicing Jew, but I returned as a truly proud member of the Jewish community. I made my own connection and love for Judaism that was never inflicted upon me in any way but rather was something I personally created. When I get back to Miami I hope to share this love and pride with others in the Jewish community at school and help others make their own connections to Judaism. I also want to make Friday night Shabbat services a bigger weekly event on campus so more students will learn of and want to experience the beauty and specialness of Shabbat!

 

Students' reflections from Birthright Summer 2011