Israeli soldiers provide ‘eye-opening’ experience

By Sara Aisnberg, KESHER Taglit-Birthright Israel alum

In early January, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to travel throughout Israel for ten days with a popular program for Jewish young adults.

As an American, middle-class, recent college graduate who has lead a moderately-privileged (and moderately–sheltered) life, I expected to have nothing in common with a group of soldiers who have faced war, death and destruction, but haven’t yet set foot inside a college classroom.

I am relieved and so happy to admit that I have never been more wrong.

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Shomrei Adamah: Guardians of the Earth

At URJ Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, California, you’ll find Kibbutz Yarok – a center for Jewish environmental education modeled after the incredible work being done at Kibbutz Lotan. Kibbutz Yarok is run by Sophie Vener, an alum of Netzer Year and Kibbutz Lotan’s Green Apprenticeship, and by Persephone Rivka, also an alum of the Green Apprenticeship. Both women are also alumni of NFTY and the URJ Kutz Camp. Check out this feature article in the Jewish Daily Forward on the incredible work that they’re doing!

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The Greatest Miracle of All

Lisa Greenberg, a recent alum of a KESHER Taglit-Birthright Israel trip, shared these poetic words with us following her return from Israel.

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Israel: From a Cerebral to an Emotional Connection

Israel: From a Cerebral to an Emotional Connection

By Pamela Schuller

Until two weeks ago, I was a Jewish Youth Worker who had never been to Israel. It’s not that I didn’t want to go – between college, jobs over college vacations and working at camp in the summers, finding 10 days to cut myself off from the world and head to Israel just felt impossible. I also wasn’t sure that I needed a trip to Israel. I already felt connected to Judaism and Israel and quite frankly, I don’t love traveling. A discussion was started in a URJ Youth staff meeting about going to Israel and I, almost like revealing a dark secret, admitted that I had never been. I realized how ridiculous that sounded coming from a Jewish youth worker.

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NFTY Staff Does Israel

NFTY Staff Does Israel

Follow along as members of the NFTY staff participate in a Kesher Birthright trip to Israel! Leslie Bass, Logan Zinman, Pam Schuller and staff member Wes Peskin will be checking in, Tweeting and Facebooking every step of the way.

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