Taglit-Birthright Israel – a once-in-a-lifetime experience

Just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege to go to Israel on an amazing program called Taglit-Birthright Israel, a free ten-day trip to Israel for Jewish young adults, ages 18 to 26.

I was very excited to go. It was my first time flying back home not only to visit my friends and family, but also to show Israel to a group of Americans who hadn’t seen it before. Here in Rhode Island my job is to “bring” Israel to the community, but during this trip, it was the other way around. I knew that it was not going to be a walk in the park.

With a full suitcase (packed with gifts for my family, of course), I took the train to Newark airport and waited there for my group. It consisted of 40 Americans ranging in age from 22 to 26 years old, who arrive from different parts of the country (my trip was a post college trip). I could see their excitement, their enthusiasm and their eagerness to go on this trip. We checked everyone in and, after a three-hour delay and many questions, we finally took off.

At Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, we were welcomed by our seven Israeli participants. They joined our group for the ten days of the trip. Together, we created a very cohesive group of individuals and we were ready to go and explore Israel together. In just a few hours, we became one big family. It was amazing to see how people who had just met a few days ago in the airport managed to become so close.

We did explore. We didn’t miss a spot and we drove all over Israel. (The high gas prices didn’t stop us.) We visited the cities, the landmarks and the important and sacred places. We met the people and tried the food. The participants experienced everything through their eyes, their stomachs and their hearts. And I had a great time watching them and experiencing it all with them.

The trip had such a great impact on the group. I could see the effect of this experience on them just by their smiles, laughs and tears. When we went to the airport at the end of the trip, I couldn’t believe that this was the same I group I met in New York just ten days prior.

“Taglit” means “discovery” in Hebrew and that, in a word, is the goal of the trip – discovery of Israel and its people, discovery of one’s own personal connection to Jewish values and tradition, and discovery of the ways in which one can be a part of the larger Jewish community.​

And we discovered. For the participants, seeing Israel for the first time was an emotional, deep experience that they will never forget. Words cannot express many of the moments during those ten days that made me so proud to be part of this amazing trip.

I encourage everyone who is eligible to sign up for this trip. You will not regret it. I can promise you that just like for me and my group, this will be once-in-a-lifetime experience for you.

To learn more about eligibility, visit birthrightisrael.com or contact Elanah Chassen at echassen@jewishallianceri.org. Registration for the summer starts on Feb. 19.