By: Andrew Adler
Admittedly, I'm not a very religious person. I never felt connected but through this birthright trip, I've learned so much about Judaism. One of my greatest experiences was having the opportunity to go to Western Wall for my bar mitzvah. I was able to share the moment with the friends I made on the trip and with other people on birthright. The moment my bar mitzvah was over, I felt closer to my friends and also my faith.
We explored the city of Jerusalem and it was interesting to see that while it is a historical city, it also has a lot of similarities back home. For instance, as we were walking around, we ended up by a school yard with young children playing games and having fun. At night we attended a traditional Shabbat that was an experience like no other. As soon as we got to the Synagogue, we were welcomed and engaged in the festivities. The loud drumming along with the members singing built excitement for myself as well as everyone else in my group. Afterwards, a couple of the members approached us and started singing to us and wished us good travels. It was truly a remarkable experience.
Admittedly, I'm not a very religious person. I never felt connected but through this birthright trip, I've learned so much about Judaism. One of my greatest experiences was having the opportunity to go to Western Wall for my bar mitzvah. I was able to share the moment with the friends I made on the trip and with other people on birthright. The moment my bar mitzvah was over, I felt closer to my friends and also my faith.
We explored the city of Jerusalem and it was interesting to see that while it is a historical city, it also has a lot of similarities back home. For instance, as we were walking around, we ended up by a school yard with young children playing games and having fun. At night we attended a traditional Shabbat that was an experience like no other. As soon as we got to the Synagogue, we were welcomed and engaged in the festivities. The loud drumming along with the members singing built excitement for myself as well as everyone else in my group. Afterwards, a couple of the members approached us and started singing to us and wished us good travels. It was truly a remarkable experience.