Going to Israel on Birthright was probably one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve ever had. Coming from an area with a very small Jewish population, being surrounded by only Jewish people was a culture shock, let alone being in a different country for the first time. My family is not religious and we do not go to temple, making the environment a bit daunting. I never had any sense of Jewish identity before this trip and I never saw myself as being Jewish enough. One of the speakers on the trip, Avraham Infeld gave a talk about Judaism not being a religion. Hearing him speak made me feel more comfortable identifying myself as Jewish. Whether you go to temple every week and eat kosher, or never observe any type of Jewish practices, we are all equal.
A lot of the activities were really fun too. Camel riding at the Bedouin tents was one of the things I was looking forward to the most. The Bedouin people were so kind and welcoming. Meeting the Israeli soldiers was another high point of the trip. Going into the trip, I was expecting the soldiers to be in uniform, serious, and there to protect us. As we spent time with them, I learned that they are just like us. They were dressed in street clothes and acted like us, and there wasn’t a culture barrier at all. A lot of us on the trip made really good friendships with the soldiers.
The culture was awesome! The falafel and pita were on point and American falafel and pita will never be the same. Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem had tons of shops, hookah bars, and restaurants with different foods from all over. The Mediterranean Sea and Dead Sea were also favorite parts of the trip. I made new lasting friendships that I never would have made without going on this trip. 10 out of 10 stars! Would highly recommend!
Stephanie Greenberg is a Junior microbiology major. Her hobbies include sleeping, eating, and Netflix.
A lot of the activities were really fun too. Camel riding at the Bedouin tents was one of the things I was looking forward to the most. The Bedouin people were so kind and welcoming. Meeting the Israeli soldiers was another high point of the trip. Going into the trip, I was expecting the soldiers to be in uniform, serious, and there to protect us. As we spent time with them, I learned that they are just like us. They were dressed in street clothes and acted like us, and there wasn’t a culture barrier at all. A lot of us on the trip made really good friendships with the soldiers.
The culture was awesome! The falafel and pita were on point and American falafel and pita will never be the same. Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem had tons of shops, hookah bars, and restaurants with different foods from all over. The Mediterranean Sea and Dead Sea were also favorite parts of the trip. I made new lasting friendships that I never would have made without going on this trip. 10 out of 10 stars! Would highly recommend!
Stephanie Greenberg is a Junior microbiology major. Her hobbies include sleeping, eating, and Netflix.
