Growing up in Kiev, Ukraine, I knew absolutely nothing about Israel, Jewish culture, and I definitely…
Birthright Israel was, by far, one of the most incredible experiences we have ever had as individuals and, of course, as a couple. What you see and learn is unimaginable and priceless. For us, it was truly life-changing. We both always wanted to go to Israel, and, at the time, the age cut-off for our trip was 27-years-old. Mark had just turned 27, and I turned 27 the day after we returned home from our trip.
Signing Up for Birthright Israel
Stacy: “I applied with my best friend. She had also wanted to go but was traveling to Asia for work so was unable. At the time, we were living in two separate states, so this trip would not only allow us to experience Israel together but would allow us to simply spend time with each other. After phone calls and letters with Birthright Israel, they finally placed both of us on a trip leaving Newark, NJ on February 19, 2009.”
Mark: “Just a few miles away, I was trying to experience Israel with my first cousin. We had applied to go together the year prior. I was assigned to a trip, but my cousin was not. As I am a few years older than my cousin, this was my last opportunity to go. As much as I wanted to experience it with him, I didn’t want to pass on this opportunity. I was all set to go on August 24, 2008. Shortly before my trip, my father became very ill. The prognosis was not good, and I was spending as much time with him as I could. On August 20, 2008, my father passed away. Naturally, I gave up my spot on Birthright Israel to care for and support my family. The next opportunity I got, I applied again with my cousin. I sent a letter to Birthright Israel acknowledging that I had passed the cut-off age and explained how that came to be. Birthright worked with me, and my cousin and I were placed on a trip leaving Newark, NJ on February 19, 2009.”
When We Knew It Was Bershert…
Stacy: “I can clearly remember all of the emotions that ran through me as we waited at the airport for our flight to depart. I was excited to meet all of my new friends, anxious to take the long flight, and elated to see Israel and experience this unforgettable trip that I had heard so many amazing things about. My friend and I were chatting with Mark and his cousin right away. We were the “Florida kids” (even though my friend was temporarily not living in Florida at the time). While we were waiting to board the plane, Mark was drawing in his sketchbook. My friend and I were admiring his talent. I was very impressed at how artistic and creative he was. Our plane landed in Israel at around 7 AM and we were immediately off to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. It was a moving experience. You could tell that some were affected more than others. For Mark, this was one of the most important moments that he had been waiting for. He had a copy of the Mourner’s Kaddish, which he recited in his father’s honor, and had several written letters to insert in the wall on behalf of his family. I remember Mark’s cousin sharing Mark’s story with me as I watched Mark at the wall. Everyone started to head away from the wall to board the bus. I decided to wait for my new friend, Mark, so he wouldn’t be alone after coming from such an emotional experience.”
Mark: “When I turned around, I saw Stacy waiting for me. Standing amongst the religious masses and their colorless clothing, she stood out like a ray of sunshine, bright and full of color. At that moment, I knew she was very special.”
The Beginning of Forever
We spent the next few days experiencing all of the amazing things that make Birthright Israel what it is — the people, the culture, the geography. We also used that time to really get to know each other. We became best friends. We talked about everything; past and present. We shared thoughts and feelings that we hadn’t shared with others. It’s truly amazing that we had never met before. We only lived about 20 minutes away from each other and had attended the same University for four years at the same time. I guess that’s why they call it fate. We met when we were supposed to.
After our trip, we maintained our relationship. We took things slowly to see how we fit into each other’s reality. Over time, we developed such a love for each other. On April 23, 2011, we were engaged, and we married about a year later, on May 5, 2012. Since then, we purchased our home in South Florida and had two beautiful daughters. We have a wonderful life together.
To those that made this happen for us, there are not enough “thank you’s” in the world. Words cannot even express our gratitude.
L’Chaim,
Stacy and Mark Hammerschmidt
