October 28, 2024
Birthright Israel Made Me Proud to Be Jewish and a Stronger Zionist
I had been to Israel twice before. But not since October 7th. I wanted to strengthen my bonds with my sorority sisters, but never realized it would connect me so deeply to others. This time visiting Israel was different.
On the fourth day of Birthright Israel, we went to Har Herzl. There I stood on what used to be a grass lawn surrounded by graves of Jews and Israelis my age. They were raw, fresh, and new — some still awaiting gravestones. I heard silent cries and listened to the stories of my peers from the University of Maryland, whose friends and relatives had passed during the months since October 7th. Then, one of the Israeli soldiers who was participating on our Birthright Israel trip stepped forward and told the story of his brother, who had died fighting for the State of Israel just a few months earlier in November 2023. In that moment, we all felt the sharp pain he was describing.
Later that day, we were at the Shuk in Jerusalem, and I looked over and saw that same Israeli man dancing. I felt so confused. How could he have told this story of experiencing such personal devastation and now seem so happy?
One night an Israeli chef spoke to our group and shared a line from a song that has stayed with me: “Mitzvah Gedolah Lihiyot Besimcha,” which translates to: “It is a Mitzvah to be happy.” It is a Mitzvah, he explained, because it takes conscious effort to choose happiness, and it is truly a good deed to yourself and others. In such hard times, he reminded us, it is our duty to be as happy as we can. This shaped both my time in Israel and my perspective on the importance of being Jewish — this is our duty to bring light even in darkness.
There were countless times during my time in Israel when this message was evident. From visiting the Kotel and learning about resilience in Sderot, to supporting Israeli small businesses at food stands and riding all-terrain vehicles, I was constantly reminded of why I am a Zionist and the importance of my Judaism in my life. I felt so lucky to be a part of such an amazing experience. I developed deeper connections with my Maryland Hillel staff and students in Greek life like me, as well as other Jewish students I didn’t know before the trip.
I developed newfound connections with Israelis, those who were on my trip and those we met every day. The first thing the tour guide said to us when we arrived was “Thank you for being here.” Over and over, we heard from Israelis who stopped us to say thank you. It was profound how much our coming to Israel right now meant to them. However, if I had the chance to say something to each and every person we met, I would say thank you right back. Thank you for protecting a place that made me feel safe to travel to during a war. Thank you for your honesty, your hospitality, and for the lessons of resilience you taught us. And thank you for showing us that we all have a second home.
Like others on my trip, I found new meaning and connection in my relationship with Israel and what it means to be Jewish. Birthright Israel gave me the opportunity to think about my connection to Israel through a different lens, especially during this time, when I was pushed out of my comfort zone. Now I am proud to be Jewish and I am a stronger Zionist. And through all of this, I felt a complete and total sense of safety.
Birthright Israel was unlike any other ten days in my life. I laughed, I cried, I learned, I relaxed, I went outside my comfort zone, and most importantly I found that light can exist amongst darkness. It was truly an honor and a privilege to go on this trip and I believe that if all Jews had similar experiences as me on Birthright Israel, we would be a more unified people.
Claire Roffman is a third-year student at the University of Maryland, where she is majoring in Hearing and Speech Science with minors in Disability Studies and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She is originally from Newton, MA, and went on Birthright Israel with UMD Hillel in summer 2024.
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