Israel - My Homeland

There is a perception and assumption that Jews and Israel are inherently related. This assumption may not be necessarily true because there are over 1 million non Jewish people who reside in Israel. Most Israelis are Jewish and thus, many Jews feel a connection to this holy land. As a Jewish America, I feel a strong connection to Israel because it is the “homeland” to Jews. This homeland acts as a place that Jews have fought so long for and it is a place where Jews can congregate to look at their history. At age seven, I visited Israel for my sister’s Bat Mitzvah and while there my family and I took part in a mission. Eleven years later when I was eighteen, I did Birthright with my sister. Last summer, while on Birthright, I was given the “gift” and opportunity to visit Israel for free. This free trip is sponsored by individuals who donate millions of dollars to the program for people (ages 18-26) who have never been given the chance to visit this sacred place. An individual must have at least one Jewish parent and cannot be active in the practicing of another religion besides Judaism. These mandatory qualifications make it clear that only certain people can be granted this opportunity. While on Birthright, I was able to connect with Israeli culture through my encounters with my Israeli tour guide, Roni, the eight soldiers assigned to my tour group, and my fellow Jewish friends whom I was touring with. I was able to visit all parts of Israel in only ten days – from Zfat, to the Bedouin tents, to Tel Aviv, to Jerusalem. Birthright was an incredible experience that all Jews should take part in and if one does not meet the requirements, they should visit Israel regardless.