Reflections on Taglit-Birthright Israel: Hillel Trip

Ben Leiner, a rising sophomore at Emory University, is a past BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES intern. This article was originally printed in the Baltimore Jewish Times on June 2, 2011.

When I ask my Jewish American friends how they would describe their Judaism, most reply with the canned response, “culturally Jewish, not religiously Jewish.” I used to think this response only meant that they like corned beef, and for most of them, this is the case. However, after traveling to the Holy Land this past week, I can elaborate on what my “cultural Judaism” means to me—something more than eating a sandwich.

I have always regarded my Judaism not as a religious experience, but one of participation. In more than a few ways, Judaism is like a big club, with benefits of which its members may or may not choose to partake. I go to services not because I feel a strong religious connection with God, but because I like feeling the sense of community there.

I taught bar mitzvah lessons for a summer because I enjoy chanting from the Torah and participating in the service and want to share that pleasure with others. Going to Israel was another way for me to participate; because of the Birthright program, as a Jew, I have the right to travel to Israel.

Travelling to Israel allowed me to practice “cultural Judaism” in new ways, as well as learn about how other Jews, particularly Israelis, choose to practice it. The most powerful way Israelis my age participate in the Jewish community is serving in the Israeli army. Eight Israeli soldiers my age accompanied us for five days on the trip, not as protection, but as members of our group, showing us the night spots in Jerusalem, giving us deeper insights into the historical sights, and joking about how much we needed to come back to Israel to enjoy it the “right way” with them. Unlike religious connections I felt at the Kotel, the personal and cultural connections I had with these soldiers was more real and more meaningful for me.

I was surprised that I felt as connected to the Israeli army as I did. The IDF and Israel are synonymous — because all Israeli citizens participate in the army, every Israeli reacts personally to violence against their military. The soldiers’ obligatory military service is their way of participating in the creation and maintenance of the Jewish state.

This idea seems obvious at first, but when our group visited the fresh graves at Mount Herzl and some of the soldiers reacted emotionally beside the graves of their fallen friends, the soldiers’ sacrifice seemed more powerful and more necessary. Having befriended these soldiers, I now, like Israeli citizens, have a personal stake in bringing peace to the region and improving Israel for Jews everywhere.

As a politically oriented person, I came to understand the profound difficulty of obtaining peace in Israel. My newfound passion for Israel and innate desire to protect it now clouds the way I see the conflict. I was pro-Israel before I went on Birthright only because Israel is a Jewish state and I am Jewish.

However, traveling to Israel made me realize why a Jewish homeland is necessary; now I am pro-Israel because I believe Israel to be part of what it means to be Jewish. Birthright showed me how little I know about Israel and that I must try my best to become better informed and more knowledgeable about the current events and history of the region.

Going on this trip taught me about how I can best participate in the Jewish community on an individual level. While I may not be as religious as some, I now understand how I belong to a mishpachan larger than the JEWISH TIMES or Beth El Congregation.

Hopefully in five, 10 or 30 years from now, I will be able to reestablish my connections with the people on the trip and the Israeli soldiers I met. In the meantime, I have to read more about the issues surrounding Israel and the history behind them and probe deeper into what being Jewish means to me.

All of this research and introspection will help me answer the question, “How can I, having experienced Israel and learned new ways to participate in the Jewish community on an individual level, can I support and strengthen Judaism around the world?” Thus, my Birthright trip had its intended effect because it forced me to consider how I can repair the world and help others.