Students of the University of Rhode Island Hillel

There are so many elements to being Jewish: religion, community, culture, friendship, experience, food, etc. My Birthright Israel trip with URI Hillel let me experience each of these different avenues, helping me define what being Jewish means to me. 

I was initially intimidated to go on a Birthright Israel trip because I didn't have a very strong Jewish background. I very quickly learned that many of the other students on my trip shared my intimidation, but the experience we had together in Israel and the trust we developed with each other led to a collective Jewish self-discovery. We brought each other a great sense of comfort as well as a new confidence that allowed us to ask questions and embrace the newness of the journey we were on. I never expected to feel such comfort being halfway across the world with a bunch of strangers, but the dynamic of spending an immersive 10 days with a group of peers built this strong feeling of community and family. We together established ownership and strengthened our own Jewish identities through the strong community of friendship that we created.

I think the most fun part about the trip is how much we as a group accomplished in a single day. Birthright allows you to get the most out of your sight-seeing expectations with tours, adventures, and information sessions. You're also able to personalize your trip with designated free time given during the day to shop the markets, walk the streets, and absorb everything you’d personally want to. As a whole, this was my favorite aspect of the trip. I loved being able to wake up in the morning and do a hike with the entire group, then at lunch-time have one of the Israeli soldiers guide me and a few friends to their favorite shawarma or falafel stands in town while we haggled with the vendors in the markets. 

The most meaningful part of this trip for me was having the opportunity to have a Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Growing up I felt this was a huge missing piece of my Jewish identity, as I had never had a traditional celebration of maturity. Ten of us on the trip had a beautiful ceremony in front of all of our new friends, who helped us celebrate this new chapter in our lives. 

I am so grateful for the experience Birthright gave me this summer, and I’m even more grateful for the new people in my life that I can genuinely call my friends. Moving forward, I hope to discover more about my Jewish faith, and plan to return to the land of Israel as soon as possible. 

- Gabby Levy, Class of 2023

by Nicole Lasky

L-R: Sadie Lowenthal, Carly Sontz, Nicole Lasky

Recently, I hosted a Reverse Tashlich event at Narragansett Town Beach. At the event, fellow students met up with me in order to pick up trash rather than throw bread into the ocean like normal Tashlich. While obeying COVID-19 regulations,we were able to walk along the entire length of the beach and collect enough trash to fill an entire garbage bag. This is surprising considering Narragansett Town Beach already has garbage and recycling barrels scattered along the beach. Because of this, another beach clean-up is being prepared for the Spring semester. To me, doing everything in one's power to protect the environment is more crucial than ever. Although it may not seem like much, Reverse Tashlich was more than picking up garbage from the beach. It was sort of like picking up bread rather than getting rid of it; a feeling of fixing issues rather than letting them go. As Rosh HaShanah approaches, I’ve been keeping this perspective in the back of my head and realizing that Tashlich itself can turn into a ritual of fixing rather than forgetting. ​

Though I’m a self-proclaimed theater nerd and enthusiast, I typically don’t pay attention to any musicals that are staged outside of the United States. But recently, a British musical broke through my bubble: The Prince of Egypt. That’s right: There is now a musical adaptation of Dreamworks Animation’s 1998 hit film The Prince of Egypt.


Learning of the musical adaptation made me reflect on how influential the film was, even 22 years after its release. There are so many reasons: I could talk for days about the soundtrack (“The Plagues!” “All I Ever Wanted!” “Deliver Us!”), the masterful animation (the huge crowd in the 10 commandments scene at the end!), and the character foils and parallels (did someone say Miriam is singing a slow reprise of her mother’s song?? I’m already sobbing!). Plus, The Prince of Egypt had behind-the-scenes consultation and approval from Jewish, Muslim, and Christian scholars (!!!).


But, upon my millionth re-watch, I realized something else: The Prince of Egypt is basically a superhero movie.

Seriously.

Read the rest of Ariel's wonderful article on the Hey Alma website!

by Dylan Kritter, URI Class of 2014

By Debbie Green, Class of 2020 

After being in Israel last summer on Birthright, I really wanted to get back so this winter break I went to Israel with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Alternative Winter Break Green Bus. As a member of the Green bus we focused our volunteer efforts on sustainability and environmentally friendly projects.  As a student studying Ocean Engineering with a focus in renewable energy, this trip gave me a greater insight into energy use in the desert.

Our first few days in Israel were spent in the Negev desert. While in the Negev we spent time at the Arava institute where we met with students from across the Middle East and World! The Arava Institute is in Kibbutz Ketura, which has the largest solar farm in the Negev. About 70% of the Arava is powered by solar energy. That’s pretty neat! We also did lots of volunteer work farming and composting. We volunteered on many different types of local farms including onion and fruit farms. The best part of the farm work was eating the foods we picked later!

The JNF Alternative Winter Break was not all work. We spent some time in Jerusalem exploring the Old City and visiting the Machane Yehuda Market.

If you are looking for a great and affordable Israel experience next winter break, I highly recommend the JNF trip. Registration for next year’s trip should open in the summer. Visit the JNF website for more information. 

It has been about one month since we have returned home from the Alternative Spring Break Trip in Houston. It was my first-time visiting Texas, and I was able to get a feel for the culture and heart of Houston. Even though we only volunteered for a week, our group got a great amount of work done on one house that had been underwater after Harvey flooded the reservoirs. The defining moment of the trip was when the owner of the house came through on our last work day and commented, “It’s starting to look like a house again!”. This was a great closing moment for the entire group!  
I have brought back many great memories, new friends, and a new outlook on how we should be concerned with global warming. Unfortunately, Houston will flood again and the work we did may only last a year or so. Here, in Narraganset RI, we also have problems with beach erosion, rising tides, and road way flooding. It’s an issue that effects more than just the south and states who are vulnerable to hurricanes. It is our job to care for our planet and this trip really helped me put it into perspective. 
While we were in Houston we visited the Rodeo, walked around down-town, and had some really good food. Even though we did have long work days, we were still able to get out and enjoy what Houston has to offer. It was not the Texas I was imagining at all! 
I plan on doing more disaster relief trips in the future that are for more immediate problems. I am a people person so working on houses isn’t as rewarding as helping someone first hand. I think it would be very rewarding to volunteer as a disaster relief nurse after I get my degree and license!                      

Going on the alternative spring break in Houston, Texas, I didn’t know what to expect.  Having never gone on a service trip before, I was nervous that I didn’t have enough past experience in building houses to succeed in this mission.  The first day we were taught how to cut the walls evenly in order to put up drywall for the next day.  It was difficult at first, considering I’ve never used these tools in my life, but towards the end of the day I didn’t want to stop until the job was complete.  Day two was when we had the tough job of putting up drywall.  Power tools and exacto knives were only a few of the tools we used to do this.  Before completing this trip, I had no idea how to use these tools and would never think that I as a business major would learn how.  
The culture of Houston, the work we put in and the people we met, made this trip an amazing experience that I would never forget.  I was shocked by how much I accomplished during the week.  I didn’t realize the impact we had made on this family’s house until we saw before and after pictures and especially when the owner of the house came home and said, “wow, it’s starting to look like a house again.” I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to go on this trip and would never trade it for anything.

About a month ago I packed my bags, got on a plane, and made my way to Houston, Texas for an alternative spring break. I won’t lie and say that I was 100% excited to be using my time off from school to work as a volunteer building houses. I had gone home to New Jersey the day before and all I wanted was to stay in my nice comfy bed for the week, but the trip was set and there was a part of me looking forward to going to the south and doing “the ultimate DIY”. 
Looking back I am so glad that I didn’t let my bed hold me back from going on the trip. Every aspect of the week was amazing. Despite bruises and dusty pants, I had a blast putting up drywall. I got pretty handy with the power tools, the highlight of my work day. When the week was over, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we were overcome with a sense of pride and accomplishment. On day one it was as if I had X-ray vision because you couldn’t see the bottom half of any of the walls, by the way 95% of all the walls were finished. And once the work day was over the fun continued. Whether it was playing board games in the kitchen after lights out or going to the biggest rodeo in the country, it was a trip filled with laughs and good times. 
By the end of the week, there was a lot more reflection on the impact we had made and what more we could do. On Friday night we went to Temple for Shabbat, and it was like nothing I had ever experienced. Growing up in a conservative-reform synagogue I had never gone to a service where the rabbi was playing guitar and the cantor was playing the drums. Somehow it was the most beautiful service I had ever been to. 
Although it was a short seven days it will be a trip I remember for the rest of my life. 

As a sophomore in college I’m extremely busy and sometimes forget to stop and take a look at the world around me. Going to a new place, meeting new people and experiencing something is exactly what I needed. Going into Texas I didn’t necessarily know what to expect, but I was open to everything that I could gain from the experience. Little did I know that seven days later I would become a different person. I learned that sometimes we don’t anticipate what will happen in the world, but through hard work, community and love anything can be possible. Yes, we were “building a house”, but we were also helping rebuild one of the strongest communities I’ve ever been a part of. The beauty of Houston is its sense of bravery and determination. We always see on the news when destruction occurs but then we get back to our daily lives and forget about all the damage that is leftover. This trip showed me that 6 months or even 6 years later there is always help that will be needed. I was given the opportunity to aid a community with a group of people that now today have a special place in my heart. Not only, did we spend 6 days building but we were also able to spend time in Houston. The culture and overall friendly attitude of the city of Houston is so inspiring. They have been through so much and still stand tall and proud every day. Being able to witness this through the restaurants, live music, the rodeo and the beautiful scenery I was able to understand why there's so much positivity in Houston.
Yet, there were moments that stood out on this whole trip. We would wake up at 7 am and go to work every day. We put up drywall and cut out outlet strips and at times it was very tedious. But throughout it all, I knew we were working towards something great. It was the last day on the site of the house, and we were finally able to meet the homeowner. She walked into the house and said to all of us, “it’s really starting to look like a home again”. Instantly in that moment, all the hard work had paid off and I knew I was meant to be here.  I learned then that whether someone’s involvement is big or small we are a part of the greater good and anything can help. Overall, the seven days that I spent in Houston, Texas was extremely rewarding and eye-opening. I met some fantastic people, who share my religion and also my passion to help others. I was able to test my physical limits by challenging myself with a tasks I had never done before. I was able to see and be a part of a different sense of culture. And, in all I can honestly say that I came back from the trip a whole new person.

Adam Reinstein
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There were so many things I was taken aback by during my two trips to Israel. I went on the Birthright trip with URI and Rutgers Hillel, was an incredible first travel experience. I got to explore the culture of the Jewish state.
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I then decided to go back for an even longer trip with Aish HaTorah, where I learned even more about the culture in the 14 days I spent there. I got the opportunity to apply what we had learned all over the state. Our activities were truly eye opening. We traversed the tunnels underneath the Western Wall and visited the separation barrier along the West Bank. We learned weapons handling, counter terrorism tactics and the values that guide the Israeli Defense Forces with Caliber 3, the leading Counter Terror and Security training academy in Israel. When I arrived back in the U.S., my first instinct was to tell people about my experiences and how Israel isn’t just what the news portrays.

I never would have guessed that six months after I got back from my second trip that I would be doing a research project comparing the U.S. to Israel on fronts such as resources, energy, political and legal structure, infrastructure, and the development stage-with all its overseas projects.

After my extensive research, I found that Israel is becoming a world leader, and has been a strong pillar of technological advancement for a long time now. If I had to say one thing about my Israel experience so far, it’s that people need to look beyond what is portrayed in the headlines and really take the time to explore and experience the country.

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By: Sarah Steinberg 

Now that it has been a few months since my trip of a lifetime to  Israel, through the amazing opportunity of Birthright, I have had ample opportunity to reflect on my ten day adventure. I was able to experience many historical places, unique foods, and amazing people that I will never forget. In just ten days, I was also able to create memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. Some of my most memorable experiences included shopping at The Shuk (marketplace), staying overnight in the Negev Desert, and befriending eight amazing Israeli soldiers. The entire experience provided me with a connection to Israel and my own Jewish identity for which I am grateful to Birthright.
One unique experience was shopping at The Shuk in Jerusalem. Being able to go off on our own and bargain with sellers over prices of clothing and spices allowed me to experience the culture of an Israeli. It was a blast walking through the crowded streets and looking at all of the amazing items being sold.
Towards the end of our trip we visited the extremely hot but beautiful Negev Desert. The Bedouin people were extraordinarily nice to host us for a night of feast and celebration. My favorite part of staying in the desert was riding the camels. Although it was uncomfortable, it was also very fun and a unique opportunity. After a fun filled night of barely any sleep we all woke up at 4:00 am to hike up the Masada to see the sunrise. The magnificent views and watching the break of day with people that had become some of my closest friends made for the best memories.
Finally, the most rewarding part of the trip was being able to spend time with the most amazing Israeli soldiers. They traveled with us for a good portion of the trip. I was a little skeptical about whether we would have things in common, but I was wrong. The first time we were all introduced, we had an instant connection; it was extremely easy to talk and joke around with all of them. They were curious about our lives just as much as we were curious about theirs. They easily integrated into our group, as if we had all been friends for years.
Not only did the trip provide fun experiences like riding camels and sleeping in the desert, it provided me with a connection to Israel. Our tour guide did an amazing job of teaching us about the history of the country; it was not only informative but also entertaining and rewarding.
Although the places we went and the food we ate are still fresh in my memory now, they may start to fade away over time. But the people that I met, the friendships that I made and my love for Israel will never fade away. This trip was an amazing experience that I hope everyone can partake in. You will not only learn so much about Israel and its culture, but you will also develop friendships at home and abroad that will last a lifetime.

Sarah is a sophomore kinesiology major from Westborough, MA.  She loves to travel and her favorite food is sushi.