I Boarded the Plane to Change Their Lives. Instead, They Changed Mine.

Six weeks ago, I was asked if I would staff a Birthright Israel volunteer trip to Israel for adults with disabilities.

I hesitated.

I had never worked with this population before and wasn't sure what to expect. But I am so grateful I said yes.

As I sit on the plane heading home after eight unforgettable days, I can't help but reflect on how much this experience has changed me.

Sixteen participants, ages 21 to 49, met for the very first time at JFK Airport. We overcame a four-hour flight delay before finally making it to Israel, where we were welcomed by an incredible team: our tour guide, group leader, medic/security guard, and our Israeli Arab bus driver.

Over the next eight days, we packed food for families in need, planted trees, picked vegetables on a farm that supports soldiers with PTSD, explored markets, spent time at the beach, shared ice cream, and even ended our final night at a beachside bar. In many ways, it looked like any other Birthright Israel trip.

But it wasn't.

Each participant carried their own unique challenges, yet none of those challenges defined them. They taught me what it means to truly care for one another, to celebrate every victory, and to look beyond labels. I watched incredible growth in just eight days. One participant overcame a lifelong fear of dogs. Another flew home alone for the first time. A third decided to stay in Israel a little longer to explore whether he might build his future there. And another shared the story of losing his father just a year ago with such honesty and vulnerability that there wasn't a dry eye in the group.

I gained sixteen new friends. I'll miss the laughter, dancing during Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach, the endless questions (even the same ones over and over), and the joy they found in every new experience.

On our way to the Nova Festival Memorial, our medic/security guard shared his personal experiences and heartbreaking stories from October 7. By the time we arrived, the weight of what had happened was already with us. Walking through the memorial alongside our participants was surreal. I couldn't stop wondering what that day would have been like for people with disabilities. Would they have been able to hide? What happened to those who were there? It was a sobering reminder that tragedy touches every community.

And through it all, Israel was unmistakably alive. The beaches were full. Jerusalem still felt like home. Life continues, even in the face of unimaginable loss. This trip reminded me that some of life's greatest lessons come from saying yes to experiences that make us uncomfortable. I boarded the plane hoping to make a difference in the lives of sixteen people. Instead, they changed mine.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Stacey Weiss is the Director of Development at the Jack & Lee Rosen JCC in Orlando, Florida. For the past five years she has worked in nonprofit development and Jewish communal organizations, with a focus on fundraising, donor relations, and community engagement. Originally from Montreal, Stacey has called Orlando home for more than 20 years. Her career has included roles with Walt Disney World, the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida, and the Orlando Museum of Art before joining the Rosen JCC. Stacey is also the mother of two daughters who participated in Birthright Israel trips.