Signing up for the Birthright Israel trip is somewhat of an expected rite of passage for American Jewish youth/young professionals, without fully grasping everything you’re in for should you get past the application process and waist lists.  For those who are unfamiliar, Taglit-Birthright is the gift of a 10-day educational trip around Israel for Jewish young adults.  Getting approved and placed on a June trip with my best friend Carrie, we were beyond excited but mostly focused on efficiently packing for two weeks in the desert and planning our extension trip over the July 4^th holiday to Istanbul.

The cab ride at sunrise to JFK and 11 hour plane ride to Tel Aviv were surreal, with neither of us able to fully grasp what we were about to embark upon. Meeting our 40 fellow participants, I couldn’t have predicted how close we would become within just a few short days. Our itinerary didn’t do the trip justice; you couldn’t have predicted the amount of distance and history we would cover and knowledge we would soak up in just 10 days. Now having been  back in the states for a week, I’ve had some time to reflect, reminisce and culminate the (at least initial) top 10 moments of what I’m sure will continue to reveal itself as one of the most impactful and inspiring trips of my life:

1)      Feeling of connection: Exploring the storied land I’ve been told about since my time in Hebrew school, meeting the people who comprise such a warm and welcoming country and connecting with other American Jews from around the country strengthened my connection to my own Judaism in ways I couldn’t have imagined

2)      Shabbat on a Kibbutz: After five jam-packed days, we were in need of some serious R&R and our Shabbat evening, dinner, lounging by the Kibbutz’s pool and Havdalah service to close out our day of rest were just what we needed to rejuvenate and inspire

3)      ‘The changing landscape’ discussion: Hosted by Israel Experts founder Joe Perlov, I learned more about the Middle East’s political, geographical and social conflicts in one hour than I walked in the room with. His impassioned, interactive presentation left me motivated with the need to delve deeper into the topic and an ownership of the problems and in finding a solution

4)      Reflection at the Western Wall

5)      Bus ride debates and history lessons

6)      Listening to the passionate, Gospel rendition of the Shema (considered the most important prayer in Judaism) sang by our ‘counselor’ Gabi in the first synagogue atop Masada

7)      Hearing a recording of David Ben-Gurion recite  Israel’s declaration of independence in the room where it happened, and hearing what it means to the young Israeli soldiers who had just joined our group

8)      Hearing the heroic and determined story of American First Sgt. Michael Levin’s service in the Israeli army at his grave in Mount Herzl cemetery

9)      Climbing Mt. Masada to see the sun rise

10)   Evening conversations over our stock of Israeli wine

It’s hard to imagine such an experience was a gift, and that I would walk away with so many more.