Birthright Israel Connected My Soul to the Place Where My Family Got Its Name

My name is Laura Fasman, and I’m from California. I am a yoga teacher, a nature and animal lover, and a Reform Jew. I went on my Birthright Israel trip in September of 2024. Before I visited, my connection to Israel was based upon the experiences of others, from my older cousins’ Birthright Israel trips to the lives of Israelis I followed on social media. Within my immediate family, no one else has had the chance to see our homeland. Finally visiting gave me my own interpretation of what the land really is—how it looks, feels, sounds, smells, tastes. Just the falafel makes the 14-hour flight worth it.

Immediately upon my arrival, I felt a sense of fulfillment and belonging. The gentle warmth of the Middle Eastern sun was the hug that I—as the youngest generation of my Jewish family—have needed for centuries. However, it was not a completely easy, happy experience. A well-rounded program should include trips to solemn sites and difficult conversations. That is exactly what we got.

Taking in the graves of Mt. Herzl— three freshly created— overwhelmed me. I wept uncontrollably at the loss of countless soldiers and Israeli heroes—some very young. That was the most memorable feeling and most important day of all. Similarly, our visit to Yad Vashem was gut-wrenching and somehow beautiful. The museum repeated what we as Jews know to have happened to our people, but it did so in a way that was fresh and, by the end, hopeful. There was a subtle yet powerful addition to all the displays of suffering and genocide—names… so many names, representing a commitment to the memory of every single victim of the Holocaust.

My trip was just under a year after October 7th. I feel like that timing created such special circumstances. We visited the memorial, which, like each site I mentioned, was frankly heartbreaking. It was unfinished, which was interesting to witness. The half-complete tribute to the victims of the tragic terror attack, which marked the start of the recent war, offered such a strong sensation of presence and solidarity. I heard stories of how it felt and looked one year ago. Israelis described the fear and panic felt on that ground. The energy remained.

On a less intense note, we had the privilege of hearing from educational speakers, who reminded us of the strength, resilience, and joy of our people. The young Israelis on our trip offered similar sentiments. They are more than soldiers or officers; they are their parents’ twenty-something-year-old children, just like our group of Americans. Their interests and emotions were no different than ours. In fact, they worried about American Jews exactly as we worried about Israeli Jews—and Israeli non-Jews, for that matter.

When I envision my future, I know I will prioritize ensuring my children experience Israel at least once. Birthright Israel showed me how necessary it is for Jews to stand in their ancestral homeland, even if only for ten days. The connection of my soul to the place where my family got its name, where in the past we had lived and thrived, is strong. I sincerely hope to share that spiritual phenomenon with everyone I can. If there are Jewish people who are not sure whether they should commit to the long flight and busy days, I hope they can trust me in saying that it is more than worth the effort and planning. Birthright Israel is a wonderfully curated program.