When my husband Ed became involved in Birthright Israel Foundation, I was less of a participant…
Homeland, miracle, and start-up nation. As a kid growing up in New Jersey, these were the words used to describe Israel — by both my parents and my teachers in Hebrew School. After visiting Israel for my brother’s Bar Mitzvah, I thought I understood the importance of the Promised Land as the safest place in the world for the Jewish people. I joined multiple Pro-Israel groups and was content with my contribution to the Pro-Israel community. Looking back, I realize that my incredible Birthright Israel Excel experience was the true beginning of my Pro-Israel contribution.
Prior to landing in Israel, I spoke with a few past Excel Fellows, and they all shared the same sentiment — Excel was by far the best summer of their life. I incredulously thought this must be an act, a façade. Again, how wrong I was. Excel was, without a doubt, a life-changing experience that left an indelible impression on me, one that I will cherish as the most significant and rewarding time of my life.
During the first day of programming, I knew the summer was going to be extraordinary. My fellow global peers, and our Israeli counterparts, were some of the most impressive individuals I had ever met. Learning about their backgrounds, motivation, and passions, I was amazed by the pedigree of our cohort. Even more surprising was how Israel was intertwined within all our stories in very different ways. Whether this was someone’s first time in Israel or they had taken a gap year there, Israel played a central role in all our lives. Israel was the glue that brought us together.
As part of Birthright Excel, we each had different internships over the summer. I worked at Waldo Holdings, the family office of Eyal Waldman, as an investment analyst, gaining valuable experience and insight. However, more interesting was the worldview which Israeli business leaders adopted. University students in the U.S. can be myopic; everyone competes to enter a few industries, and little thought is given on how to give back to the community. The exact opposite is true in Israel. My boss, coworkers, Israeli peers, and the incredible speakers we heard from each week identified a problem to solve and worked to better the world. This perspective has changed my goals and professional aspirations.
Building Lifelong Friendships
As summer progressed, it became clear that the most meaningful experiences happened when all 120 fellows came together. As mentioned, the global fellows were leaders on their campuses, studying to become doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and so much more. Each of their stories was unique and inspiring, and there was always something new to learn with this group. The Israeli cohort was also key to my experience. Growing up, I heard stories of the legendary 8200 Unit, and of the sabra attitude, but I hadn’t connected with many Israelis. That changed this summer — learning about the companies they founded, the struggles of living in a tumultuous region, or about the best hummus spots in Tel Aviv, Israelis became some of my best friends. It is now clear that Israelis are our family, and while we may live in different parts of the world, we are one. The emotional rush I felt in Jerusalem, and Yad Vashem as a family of 120 strong is unforgettable. The shared understanding that was created in the silence as we walked through the winding hallways is something one can only experience with Jews from all over the globe.
Israel Is the Connector
While it is correct to characterize Israel as our homeland, a miracle, and a start-up nation, I now think of Israel as family. Israel is the connector that brings together the entire Jewish people, the Jewish family. I consider everyone from the summer my family, my brothers, and sisters.
Leaving Israel was one of the saddest days of my life, but each ending is a new beginning. Israel is at the top of my mind for anything I do. Currently, that manifests in me leading pro-Israel groups on campus, lobbying Congress, and attending conferences to support our home. While I can’t begin to predict what my future may look like, I can promise that it will involve working with and helping improve Israel.
It’s not a coincidence that every person who experiences a Birthright Israel program leaves a better person than when they joined. The land of Israel has been the only constant in the long history of the Jewish people, and every Jew has a special connection with the land. Birthright Israel is the single most important organization forming connections between the Diaspora and our family in Israel. At a time when Jews are becoming less connected to Israel, I cannot think of a more important and noble organization.
