The Last Post: An Airing of Grievances & A Heartfelt Thank You

Birthright Parents and Friends,

 

I never got to say goodbye or post one last blog entry.  Upon returning to the United States, I immediately returned to my family. With a 16 month old and a pregnant wife, I had a lot of work and chores to catch up on when I returned.

My daughter says hello:

Cutest. Kid. Ever. I missed her tons.

Let me first start by addressing something that was talked about a lot on the trip… a lot…

The itinerary was a challenge. We did not stay in the hotels we usually stay in. We did not have as many nights out as other trips have had in the past. We spent a LOT of time on the bus. But, overall, the itinerary was NOT as dramatically changed or flawed as some of the students implied. And as this was my third trip to Israel on Birthright, I feel very qualified to make this declaration.

The reality is that with the Pope, Justin Timberlake, and Jerusalem Day, the itinerary was different than the typical itinerary, YES. But it was not BAD and there were not the drastic changes that the students seemed to believe (we never spend a night in Tel Aviv, for instance… I don't know where they came up with that). And, as I declared to the students in our closing meeting, the worst 10 days on Birthright are still the BEST 10 days of your life… away from school, work, etc. Birthright is a gift. It is a priceless gift, regardless of the itinerary.

There is a bigger issue, though. Birthright, organizationally, has some major challenges ahead of it. Specifically, the tone of OUR trip (and many other trips for our peer schools by what I have learned from peers and Birthright administrators) was drastically changed because of the newly eligible Birthright participants and the general increase in the number of participants who have been to Israel before. Originally, Birthright's mission was intended to accommodate students who have never been to Israel before. This year, it's become abundantly clear that Birthright's future programming must also cater to more experienced students who are looking for more than just an introductory experience. Birthright must create experiences for the second-time participant and offer special opportunities for these groups of students. This is something I will advocate for moving forward and a narrative that may explain why some of our participants were underwhelmed with some of the elements of the trip.

Okay. Let's move on.

 

You have my gratitude.  Your students were WONDERFUL people and an absolute pleasure to know.  They were attentive, polite, engaged, and thoughtful.  I was so proud of the way they represented themselves.  This is a reflection on YOU, their family and friends.  These students were raised right.  They were prepared to connect with the state of Israel and explore their own Judaism.  Thank YOU for giving me the opportunity to get to share Israel and Judaism with them and trusting us with their health and safety.

 

The trip is not over, though, yet.  No doubt they have told you all about their experiences, showed you pictures, and maybe even brought you valuable souvenirs.  I would challenge you, though, to talk to your students about the trip on a deeper level.  What connections does your family have with the state of Israel?  Share how YOU felt about your student going to Israel with them.  Or, maybe you can tell them about YOUR first experience in Israel.  Become a part of the post-experience dialogue that encourages students to process the trip and reflect on their time in Israel in a deeper and more meaningful way.

 

As I told your students on the last evening if the trip, Hillel at Syracuse University is always here for them. Specifically, I am always here for them, if they need anything.  My offer extends to you, the families for the participants, as well.

Thank you,

Brian

The Last Pics

Sorry for the delay getting these online. The last few days were kinda nuts in the best possible way.

Welcome to Jerusalem; Jerusalem of Gold on Mount Scopus

When In Doubt, Go Camp!

It's Tuesday, marking one week exactly since we landed in Tel Aviv airport and came home to Israel. Let's reflect on that, because when our fearless leader Brian welcomed us home in Israel, it felt a little bit like a superficial sentiment to me. Of course, Israel was our people's home, but our real home was with our friends and families in the US. Israel is meaningful to us as the birthplace of our faith, but the challenge that our group unconsciously faced was the transformation of our feelings towards Israel. That's the real purpose of a Birthright trip: taking a biblical place that has religious meaning and welcoming it into our hearts with genuine emotion. I hope I speak for everybody when I say that Israel has taken a special place in my heart, with special memories and incredible experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Every Birthright group is different: we have a group that was fairly tight in the beginning, but wasn't a bonded family. Now, seven days later, we have become very close (figuratively and literally; riding that bus for a total of three hours a day presents its own special challenges), and we have achieved that bond the only way a group of twenty year old college students and soldiers can: CAMP. I mean, down and dirty, late night chill sesh, bonfire camp experience.

Most of us have experienced camp in one form or another. There's nothing like kicking back with a couple of beers and s'mores with your best friends, running around outside playing Manhunt, or having what is essentially a massive three month sleepover. Now, we are twenty years old or so, and camp is a thing for kids, yeah? Well, we here at the Syracuse Hillel Birthright say nay! Our group dynamic has changed considerably since we've begun our trip because we've let our inner child come out. With that attitude, we've been able to appreciate the small things as well as the more spectacular adventures. We've learned to trust each other because we've been able to let our guard down in this intense, intimate, but liberating environment. By not taking ourselves and this trip extremely seriously, we've allowed bonds of genuine emotion to form, connecting us to Israel in a way that will not be easily forgotten. 

When we picked up the Israeli soldiers in Tel Aviv, we were warned that our dynamic would shift again. Yes, that happened, but that does not imply that it was a bad thing for our group: quite the opposite, in fact. We added more people who, in the end were just like us: young adults who loved to live life, learn, and make friends. I'd like to share a story of how the Israeli kids helped to cement our group today. 

We played camp games. The Israelis set up several team bonding activities to help us blow off steam and bond. (I'm sure the comedic value provided was not unappreciated either.) We had super soakers, violent musical chairs, and skits that allowed us to channel our inner comedians in a bid to satirize our experience in Israel. After two hours, a couple of broken chairs, two soaking wet gentlemen, and general hilarity, we were exhausted, hungry, and laughing our way to better abs.

Our trip in Israel comes with a lot of expectations: responsibility, insightful reflection, and appreciation of the gift we've been given. However, one lesson we've learned is the appreciation of each other as a member of our new family. Even if we get cranky or annoyed, we've come to understand that the group is valuable because everybody is here in Israel experiencing this magnificent country right alongside each other. Israel is now home to us, because we've made new friends and family that will always keep our memories of this trip alive.

With Love and Hugs,

Mary Rachel Keville

Classy Drinking at a Winery in the Golan

Muslim School Meeting With Students

Jillian Takes Selfies with Sleepers Pt. 3

#JillianSleepingSelfies