(Front row, from right: Miri and Sheldon Adelson,
philanthropists, Gidi Mark, CEO of Birthright, Rabbi Shlomo Gestetner, Dean of
the Mayanot Institute, Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov, Executive Director of
Mayanot, meeting with the Birthright Academic pilot trip)
Fortunately for Mayanot, we receive wonderful thank you
letters, from past students and Birthright Israel participants on a regular
basis, but this letter was extra special and we wanted to share it with
you. As you are our supporters and help make all the magic happen, we hope
you feel as inspired as we did! This beautiful letter came from a
Washington University student who attended our Birthright Academic, pilot
program, this past summer.
To the entire Mayanot team,
After finishing up my Birthright Academic paper, I
wanted to share a few thoughts with you.
Wow it's hard to believe that just over a month ago I
was meeting 26 amazing people and 4 incredible staff members. Rather, it
is more amazing that just over a month ago; I didn't know these people, who
have become such an important part of my life.
I would like to thank Mayanot and Birthright for
everything that went into the incredible experience that was Birthright
Academic!
I'm going to be honest...because this wasn't my first
trip to Israel, I didn't expect much. Sure, it's a beautiful land.
Sure, I have considered aliyah for the last year or so, especially since I've
been taking Hebrew in college. But I didn't expect the experience to be
any different than previous trips. I certainly didn't think it could
compare to my first trip, when everything was new.
Well, Mayanot team, I am indeed a critical Jew, but you
completely melted the heart of this cynic. :) Traveling on birthright was
a life changing experience. It
truly changed my life. I can definitely say it was
just as exciting, or maybe more so, than when I first saw the Kotel at age 11,
just before my Bat Mitzvah, and this was something I could never have
expected going into it.
Religiously, personally, and academically I learned so
much about myself. I learned about the person I want to be. I learned
how to open up and be a true friend. I had more fun with the group, just
being our goofy selves, than I have had in a while. This was a special
group of participants and staff who I really gained a lot from and who I feel
will be part of my life for many years to come. For that I am
exceptionally grateful. I think sometimes experiences come along at just
the right time in your life, and this certainly was the case with birthright
for me.
Regarding the academic elements:
My closest friends at Washington U tease me that, 'I
should become a Professor of Israeli history', because my idea of a fun night
is getting to watch a documentary on Yoni Netanyahu, an IDF
officer that commanded the elite commando unit Sayeret Matkal
during Operation Entebbe. I have a deep passion for Israeli
history. I feel my purpose is to learn as much as I can. So, I
wanted a more in-depth experience than just regular touring, and I wanted to be
surrounded by equally serious and fun peers.
With these hopes, the trip far exceeded my
expectations.
It was great to get such an in-depth look at Israel and
Israeli defense. Between the lecturers, the Rabbi, and talking with the
Israelis, I don't think I've ever asked so many questions in my life, and I'm
grateful for the opportunity to be around experts to ask. :)
One cool anecdote: I spent the summer of 2013 lobbying
with AIPAC for more Iron Dome funding, and on the trip we visited Sderot and I
got to hold an Iron Dome rocket head. That really brought things full circle
in a way only birthright academic, only this trip, could.
Also, this past week I went to meet my
Congressman. I interned for him last summer so we knew each other a
bit. He votes on issues pertaining to Israel and I wanted to share my
experience so he knows what an amazing place it is. We had a great chat
about how at the end of the day, Middle East politics is about people.
For me the academic portion really comes down to this:
as I said to Gidi Mark, the CEO of Taglit Birthright Israel, I have
attended 4 AIPAC conferences, I was part of the Tikvah Fund's year long
fellowship and I read Times Of Israel regularly, but I learned
more in the 13 days with Birthright Academic than I did from all three of those
sources combined.
Academically and culturally, the trip enforced for me,
that while I love international relations, this is where I want to be. There is
something special about the middle east- about Israel. Israel's history has an unbelievably powerful
and rich energy and I want to be part of that for the rest of my life.
I would ultimately like to extend a tremendous thank
you and make a small ask.
The ask is this: How can I get involved?
Birthright academic is one of the most in depth,
incredible programs out there for young people, hands down, and I want to
see it succeed. I know it was a trial but I want to see it continue for
others. Anything I can do, during the summer or during the year, let me
know. Let's talk. I'm in!
Hope to be in touch. Really all I can say is
thank you.
H.S.
Wash U, St. Louis
