Rachelle and Max both attended the University of Maryland, College Park where they unknowingly both signed up for the same Birthright Israel trip in January of 2015. It was on their trip, they connected and the sparks started to fly! Once Birthright Israel was over, they graduated from college and moved to Johnson City, TN so Rachelle could attend a clinical psychology Ph.D. program at East Tennessee State University. A few months later, Max started as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the local medical center and proposed to Rachelle on Roan Mountain. The couple plans to wed in July 2022.

Q&A with Rachelle & Max

What made each of you want to go on Birthright Israel?

Rachelle & Max: “We had both been to Israel as teenagers as part of other organized trips and were excited to go back to Israel via a Birthright trip organized through Meor at the University of Maryland, College Park. We had both heard amazing things about Birthright Israel trips and were eager to experience it for ourselves. We were juniors in college (2015) when we went on the trip and felt like it was a great time to experience the trip that everyone had been talking about.”

Did either of you think you’d meet your future partner on Birthright Israel?

Rachelle: “I did not think I’d meet my future husband on Birthright Israel but was hoping I’d have a short ‘fling’ for the duration of the trip.”

Max: “I did not think I’d meet my future partner but the second I started talking to Rachelle I knew I wanted more than a short fling.”

Can you pinpoint the one moment on the trip when you both knew you’d fallen in love?

Rachelle: “I know I’d fallen in love with Max the night we spent hours swinging on a hammock, outside our hostel, staring at the stars. I remember talking to Max about my family, friends, hobbies, and studies; also, I could see how great of a listener Max was (and still is)!”

Max: “I knew about an hour into the plane ride. Rachelle’s warm heart and smile made me feel vulnerable enough to spill my whole life story to her. She listened to me talk for hours with an open mind and an open heart, the two things that I love most about her.”

What were your biggest takeaways from the experience?

Rachelle: “My biggest takeaways outside of meeting Max were the Mega Event and our trip to the Western Wall and the Old City in Jerusalem. The Mega Event was a powerful experience for me because it was the first time I had been in a space with that many other young Jews all celebrating the same thing (Am Yisrael Chai!). The trip to the Western Wall and the Old City was special as well because I got to see the wall from a room that overlooked it. It was a perspective I had never seen before!”

Max: “The Western Wall was also a powerful experience for me too. It evoked memories of my late grandfather who was a prominent Jewish figure in my life. I am also a foodie and enjoyed watching and tasting the many flavors of Israeli cuisine.”

Your Experience Can Help: Whether you’re an alum, family member, or longtime trip leader, sharing your experience can benefit future trip participants! Share Your Story >
Your Experience Can Help: Whether you’re an alum, family member, or longtime trip leader, sharing your experience can benefit future trip participants! Share Your Story >

What was it like to travel with Israelis?

Rachelle & Max: “We had both met Israelis before and thought it was exciting to have them on the Birthright trip! They all had a great sense of humor and were very outgoing. They were proud of their culture and were eager to share their lives with us.”

Do you think Birthright Israel is an important experience for young Jews?

Rachelle & Max: “Not only is it a great trip to see Israel, but you get to develop your Jewish identity, explore spirituality, and have fun experiences with other young Jews. For us, the most important part of Birthright Israel was getting to expand your Jewish network. Our trip had mostly people that were attending the University of Maryland, College Park, so when we got back it was easy to build on the relationships they made in Israel. We also had several trip reunions afterward!”

If you could meet the donor who made your trip possible, what would you say to them?

Rachelle & Max: “We would express how grateful we are for this opportunity to see and experience parts of Israel that we may have never experienced otherwise. The trip instilled a passion for Israeli culture, an appreciation of a Jewish state, and a desire to return to Israel in the future. Without this trip, we may have never met (even though we were attending the same college), we’d tell the donors how big of a part they are in our lifetime of happiness.”