By Dmitry Vortman
GFA Security Officer
I took a trip to Israel during spring break. This was not just any ordinary trip; this was birthright (or as the local Israeli citizens know it, a Taglit, which means “discovery”). Birthright Israel is a nonprofit educational origination that sponsors a free, 10-day heritage trip to Israel for young adults of Jewish heritage, aged 18–32. Sixty percent of it is funded by donors, while 40% is funded by the Israeli government, which covers airfare, meals, hostels, hotels, transportation, and security. But let’s backtrack a little bit.
Right after high school, my parents begged me to go on this trip (mostly to find a nice Jewish girl to marry). But I wasn’t interested. In my head, I’m thinking, “Israel isn’t safe. There’s a holy war going on, I practice these holidays because my parents do it.” At the time it was only offered to people up to age 27. My sister went and had great time. She kept telling me, “You have to go, you have to go. I can’t explain it, but you must.” Also, as you get older, you get wiser and you start having regrets. Unfortunately, by the time I decided I wanted to go, I was 27 — I can’t go now.
Fast forward to last August. One of my cousins, who happens to live in Israel, was getting married. My dad and I decided to plan around this wedding and make a “roots” trip out of it. We went to Israel for 11 days, then to Odessa, Ukraine. Once I got back home to the States, I immediately wanted to go back to Israel. I had a great a time, but I felt that something was still missing; I wanted to learn more about my Jewish heritage and the Israeli culture. A few weeks later I got an email from Taglit Birthright telling me that the age requirement had been extended, and there would be a birthright trip for ages from 27 to 32. Here I thought I missed out on this great opportunity; I truly felt that this was fate and a blessing for me.
During that trip, I felt that void get filled — that something I was missing I found from going on this trip. I went throughout Israel in 10 days. It’s a small country— you can drive through it in 6 hours — but it’s a country filled with rich history and culture. What made it even better were the people I met from around the United States who were in my group. People whom I still speak to and will meet again in the near future.
I’ve been to and climbed the Masada, I swam in the Dead Sea, I went camel-back riding, I went to wineries and farms where we picked fresh fruits and vegetables. I learned that there are many solar panels, they have the second largest solar panel tower in the world.
Most of the time the trip was filled with smiles laughs but some of the trip was emotionally tough — mostly due to learning about the exile, slavery, and persecution the Jewish people had to endure — but it was something my group and I had to learn. I went to Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors; and Gentiles who selflessly aided Jews in need. There is the Holocaust Museum and Mount Herzl which is on the site of Israel's national cemetery and other memorial and educational facilities, found on the west side of Jerusalem beside the Jerusalem Forest. Every plot section in Mount Herzl has a broad plaza for memorial services. Most state memorial ceremonies for those killed in war are conducted in the National Military and Police cemetery.
Bringing back the knowledge and traditions that I learned about my Jewish faith brings me closer to my religion. My message to you is to learn more about your heritage, about your culture, about your ancestors. Don’t be afraid to take risks and get out of your comfort zone —you don’t want to miss out on great opportunities in life and end up having regrets. Because I almost did. One last thought: do not be afraid of being who you are, do not try to be something you’re not. Embrace your individuality, your background, religion, creed, and your culture.