With
only eight free hours every day (and most of it used to sleep), the one word
that Thurgood Marshall College junior John Perry uses to describe his
Birthright experience is “intense.” Between going to historical Jewish landmarks such as Tel Aviv Beach, the Western
Wall and Mount Masada, and socializing with his peers on camelback, the 10-day
all-expenses paid trip to Israel is an adventure unlike any other.
“Anyone who can do it should do it,” said
Perry. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience.”
The Birthright program
is made available by Hillel at UCSD, a campus organization that encourages
Jewish students to practice their traditional culture. Hillel offers the
Birthright trip every winter, encouraging Jewish students ages 18 to 26 to
travel to Israel in hopes that they will choose to continue their education
there, become Israeli residents, or simply to get in touch with their roots.
Along with the historical aspect of the trip, observation of the daily life and
cultural practices in Israel allows Jewish students to experience the country
firsthand.
“Students judge Israel for themselves, not
through television,” said Hillel Israel Program Coordinator Diana Shafar.
While many students
enjoy the historically rich aspect of Birthright, some tend to undergo a bit of
a culture shock.
“Carrying a gun is totally normal,” said John
Muir College sophomore Naomi Shiffman. “You see soldiers carrying guns in the
cafes.”
Although students are
sometimes startled by Israel’s differences in military presence, experiencing
this aspect is an important step for students to understand the country’s
national identity.
“Safety is [Israel’s]
number one priority,” said Muir College junior Yoel Saidian.
In addition to
illuminating the military’s role in Israel, the Birthright program immerses its
participants in a daily culture that employs Judiaism as more than a religion,
but as a way of life. According to Sixth College freshman Joey Axelrod,
Israelis don’t seem to associate religion with Jewish holidays as much as their
American counterparts, in part because of their experiences with Judaism
outside of religious events and services. Judaic holidays are observed
nationally in Israel, which allows Israelis to partake in Jewish festivities
without having to attend temple.
“In Israel, everything
is shut down on Yom Kippur,” said Shafar. “You feel [the Jewish culture] even
if you don’t want to.”
During the trip,
students also receive an opportunity to experience the country’s nightlife and
meet local residents, further expanding their understanding of Israeli culture.
“The people are cool,” said Perry. “They
party, they drink … they’re way more laid back.”
After returning from
the trip, many students said they felt they learned more about themselves and
their link to their Jewish ancestry.
“It gave me a better
sense of identity seeing how other people saw Israel,” said Shiffman.
In most cases, the trip
can even be life changing for its attendees.
“The trip helped me
realize who I want to be, what I want to do and who I want to be around,” said
Saidian.
Students also maintain
relationships with both the UCSD students and Israeli friends they met during
their travels.
“I still keep in touch with two of the
soldiers I met on the trip,” said Axelrod. “We made them Facebook [accounts].”
Whether students are deeply in touch with their
Jewish roots or oblivious to the traditions of their ancestry, Birthright
offers an opportunity to take advantage of the rich culture of their family
heritage and form long-lasting friendships with their local and international
peers.
