My Birthright Israel Experience.
It was a cold, windy evening in San Francisco when my cousin Aaron first broached the subject of Birthright Israel. Apparently, he and his brother Gabe had previously gone on Birthright and both had a memorable experience, so much so that he decided to strongly recommend it to me. For the uninitiated, the Birthright gift consists of an all-expenses paid trip to Israel, where one can view precious Jewish holy sites in person, and even swim in the famous Dead Sea. The only catch is that, in order to qualify for the program, you need to have at least one Jewish parent. Fortunately, in my case, I was eligible and able to register for a special Birthright program known as Tel Aviv Pride. Even though this trip took place at the end of 2017, I still have precious and treasured memories from Israel that I remember to this day.
Before I went to Israel, I did not realize that the Hebrew language is read right-to-left. It also utilizes symbols that are not akin to the Roman letters that I am comfortable with using in the English alphabet. However, this did not stop me from taking in everything Israel has to offer. Fortunately, additionally, both our tour guide and program chaperone spoke fluent Hebrew. I was even able to befriend a fellow participant, Ari, who is bilingual in English and Hebrew. Even, though, when the language barrier reared its ugly head, I was never really unable to connect with anyone, because the locals were incredibly kind and friendly to me.
Judaism is full of special rituals and sacraments, and, during my program, I felt more strongly connected to my religion and ethnicity than ever before. For instance, did you know that, during the Shabbat, all the elevators in Israel run automatically, because technically every Saturday is a day of rest? Or that one can float in the Dead Sea without even having to doggy paddle? I even discovered that there are fewer peanut allergies in Israel because children there are often fed the tasty treat known as Bamba, which consists of corn puffs that are drenched in powdered peanut butter. I will additionally always remember the time I was fortunate enough to put a handwritten note in a hole in the famous Western Wall in Old Jerusalem, while wearing a traditional white Yamaka.
In addition to the artifacts that we examined, and the holy sites we toured, we were able to participate in a number of team building activities that created lifelong bonds and friendships. I even know of a couple who met for the very first time on my Birthright trip. They are still together to this day. One recurring theme that was presented to me in Israel was the importance of tolerance, and of respecting tradition and various religious sites. As an out gay man, I felt both included and celebrated, especially because the vast majority of our tour bus identified as LGBTQ+. Additionally, as we climbed the dirt steps of Masada, in addition to feeling out of breath, I felt a sense of awe at the sheer history that was enveloping us.
In case you do not know, I have, for years, identified as agnostic. This, in some ways, made me skeptical of organized religion. However, one important lesson that I learned in Israel is that religion does not necessarily have to be bad. I also discovered that history is almost always interesting, and that the differences that people have can often only serve to bring them closer together. By the time we were ready to board our A380 back to LAX, I could only conclude that Judaism can be practiced in many different ways. There is no single rule, practice, or tradition that must be followed above all else. Finally, the greatest gift that Birthright has ever given me is the knowledge that, if one is only willing to leave one’s comfort zone, one can literally achieve almost anything.
