Birthright Parents and Friends,
Thank you,
Brian
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
