Sonoma Valley High graduate takes ‘Birthright’ trip

SVHS graduate Lily Shapiro, ‘14, on her (free) summer trip to Israel|

How to apply

The goal of ‘Birthright Isreal’ is to “ensure the vibrant future of the Jewish people by strengthening Jewish identity, Jewish communities, and connection with Israel.” Over the past 20 years, more than 650,000 young people around the world (age 18-32) have been invited to take a free ‘Birthright’ trip. Registration happens twice yearly in February (for summer trips) and September (for winter trips). When registration is not open, you can sign up to receive priority status when registering later on. www.birthrightisrael.com

Growing up, I always knew that I was Jewish on my dad’s side of the family, but I was never exposed to much of the culture and never felt connected to that side of myself. I definitely never thought I would be eligible to apply for Birthright, a nonprofit organization that funds trips to Israel for young Jews. However I always remained curious about the organization.

This past January, during my senior year of college at Chapman University, one of my roommates mentioned she was going to apply for one of the summer trips. Immediately I knew it was time for me to stop questioning it and just go for it and apply. The application was very simple and easy to complete. They weren’t as concerned with one’s Jewish background as I thought they would be, which made the whole process very encouraging. A couple months later I found out I had a spot on a trip for the summer, and I accepted the completely free trip to Israel!

In June, our group of 40 young Americans left for a 10-day trip to Israel. We started in the north by spending some time in Tiberias-one of the four holy cities which rested right on the Sea of Galilee. Also during our time in the north, we went to Mt. Bental to view the Golan Heights and the Syrian border, went river-rafting down the Jordan River and experienced a festive Shabbat (my first one ever).

After a few days of activities, we headed to Tzfat-the birthplace of Jewish mysticism-for an afternoon before traveling to Tel Aviv.

Once we arrived in Tel Aviv, seven wonderful Israeli peers joined our group to travel with us for a few days and give us a more immersive experience. While in Tel Aviv, we learned some Israeli history and were exposed to the booming industry of tech startups.

What came next ended up being my favorite part of the trip. We made our way to the desert and woke up early for a sunrise ascent of Masada – a famous desert plateau, fortress and palace - and then floated in the Dead Sea in the afternoon. We camped overnight in the desert and rode camels the morning after. Then journeyed to Jerusalem, where we would stay for the remainder of the trip. During our time in Jerusalem, we explored the Old City, had a sentimental and solemn day at Yad Vashem (Holocaust museum) and Mt. Herzl (Israel’s national cemetery), visited the Western Wall, walked throughout an open air market, and encountered another Shabbat, which the entire city of Jerusalem takes very seriously.

My experience was nothing short of amazing. Everyone I met on the trip and within Israel was so warm and welcoming, leaving me with high regard for the country and the Birthright program. As opposed to what most would think, I felt extremely safe the entire time, which encouraged me to think about how skewed the media can be.

The people of Israel have such pride in their country because they have always had to fight for it. They seem to be very like-minded and patriotic, especially compared to our country which has people so torn apart.

I am grateful I had the opportunity to see a part of the world that lives differently, while also realizing that we are all the same. Because of this trip, I was able to connect more to my Jewish side, and I am thankful for Birthright for allowing me a safe and encouraging (and free) trip to explore what my Jewish identity means to me.

How to apply

The goal of ‘Birthright Isreal’ is to “ensure the vibrant future of the Jewish people by strengthening Jewish identity, Jewish communities, and connection with Israel.” Over the past 20 years, more than 650,000 young people around the world (age 18-32) have been invited to take a free ‘Birthright’ trip. Registration happens twice yearly in February (for summer trips) and September (for winter trips). When registration is not open, you can sign up to receive priority status when registering later on. www.birthrightisrael.com

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