Summer on Israel Pilgrimage

Unagh Frank '15 (EPA)

This summer I had the most amazing adventure through Poland and Israel on USY's summer pilgrimage. It was eye opening, inspirational, actually the greatest thing I have ever done. Here is a compilation of G4's venture to the holy land. I love and miss you G4 so much!

Why It Was Important to Go to Israel this Summer

Sam Zack '15 (CRUSY)

As you all should know, there has been a recent escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the terrorist organization that runs the Gaza Strip. The tensions began to rise when the three missing Israeli teenagers were found dead in the West Bank in late June. To make it worse, the amount of rockets being shot at Israel significantly increased. Soon after, the IDF launched Operation Protective Edge and began striking terror targets and eventually entered the Strip with foot soldiers and tanks. As a result of the conflict, dozens of mission trips and other group trips were cancelled or ended early. My trip, however, was not. 

This past summer I traveled to Israel and Poland through Ramah Seminar, and I believe that it was important for groups to still travel to Israel this year. As a North American Jew, it was important for me to support the IDF and stimulate the economy by being in Israel in a time like that. Besides the amazing benefits of going to Israel not in a time of conflict - experiencing the food, culture, strong sense of Zionism and religion, etc. - I was able to experience things that I otherwise would not have. For example, there was a day in which we walked to a busy street and took various types of photos representing how the war was affecting Israeli society. After that, we learned more in-depth details about the situation and how to advocate for Israel, both in high school and college. 

My love for Israel grew more than it would have if there was no current conflict. I felt that it was part of my duty, even more than usual, to advocate and inform others about the importance of Israel. Israel is an incredible place where any Jew feels at home, and I would recommend to anyone to travel there, whether it’s during a time of conflict or not.

Israel Day Parade with USY

Noa Gurvis '15 (METNY)

I've watched the Israel Day Parade from afar, and finally being able to participate was like a dream come true. It's such an empowering feeling, walking step-in-step with more than one hundred of your best friends; you feel like you can accomplish anything.

Being at the parade with everyone made me feel so proud of our country. There were so many people there that I didn't know, but it was incredible and almost unfathomable that we were all connected by our strong love for Israel. Seeing everyone there with the same goal in mind - to celebrate our country - was the best feeling in the world.

We had so much spirit, singing ruach songs at the top of our lungs and going crazy every time we passed by a camera. Everyone was into it. It turned from just a march into something I'll never forget.

Samantha Engelmyer '16 (Tzafon)

131 hours ago I returned to my small town in upstate New York after spending 10 days in the beautiful land of Israel, which I visited for the first time. When we boarded the bus at 5:45 AM on Thursday, we only recognized a face or two in the early morning light. The look of being terrified and excited because of heading half way across the world with 31 new faces, was wide spread.  

By the time the four-hour bus ride to Newark Airport was over, we were all so close already. We may not have thought about talking to each other in school, but we all had bonded over the fact that we were departing on a journey to such a special place. Some of the members of the group had already visited Israel five or six times in the past, while others had only read about it, but the moment we walked out of Ben-Gurion Airport, each and everyone of us was awe-struck.

We spent our first two days in Jerusalem, which was picture perfect. We walked through mazes of stone walls and ran up hillsides to view the stunning ancient city. After spending the weekend in Jerusalem, when we thought nothing could be better, we traveled two hours south by bus to Eshkol. There we met even more new friends and our host families for the week.

The time in Eshkol was one of the most moving things I have ever experienced. We lived lives of Israeli teenagers, so similar to us, each and every day surrounded by pure beauty. There were fields of bright red flowers in the middle of the desert, whose names I probably will never remember, and there wasn't a place the eye reached that wasn't breathtaking.

After you return from a trip as special as this, finding words powerful enough to describe the beauty and experience seems impossible. I never understood the phenomenon before, but now I do, and there is no way to describe it. One day you'll just have to go to understand for yourself too.

H2 Woah Reflections

Jacob Seidel '14 (NERUSY)

H2 was a very close, somewhat informal kinnus for USYers with a particular interest in Israel and Judaism. Between the amazing staff, thought provoking programming, and super fun company, it was one of the best kinnusim that I have ever had the pleasure of attending. There were wonderful USYers in attendance from all over the U.S. (and some from Canada) all of whom added an extra layer of enjoyment to the weekend. I highly recommend attending next year!

Nathan Bishop '16 (SWUSY)

My love for Israel started during the summer after my seventh grade year. I had the option to go to Israel with my family, or have a Bar Mitzvah party with my family and friends. It took my no time to make up my mind. As soon as I arrived into Israel I felt as if I had been in the wrong place for my whole life, and I had finally arrived home. To me, home is a place where wearing my Judaism is a norm. Home is a place where I can feel safe to express anything that I believe in. To me home is burning both of your feet to the bone on the mud of the Dead Sea.

Since this trip, I have wanted nothing less than to return home. My love and interest for Israel has grown immensely. My trip has caused me to strive to get all of my friends, and all of my friends of SWUSY to become as educated as possible on Israel’s situation. My love has guided me from AIPAC in DC, all the way to the opportunity of becoming SWUSY’s Israel Affairs Vice President 14-15. Now all I want to do is help the Southwest by educating each and every one of my friends, SWUSY or not, on the beauty and the overall importance of Israel’s impact on Judaism and the world.

Mila: a Word from your Shaliach

by Central Shaliach: Carmiel Frutkoff

Adam Hertzog, NOAM’s national chairperson (parallel to USY’s International President) spoke last week at a rally that took place by the Prime Ministers house in Jerusalem.  The rally organized by ‘Tag Meir’ (Translates: A badge of light) came to protest the growing number of religious based violent acts that Israelis have witnessed in the last few years. These crimes, committed by radical fundamentalist Jews, self-titled - Tag Mechir (Price tag) included the destruction and vandalization of many Muslim and Christian holy sites, allegedly as retribution for violent acts committed by these minorities against Jews. These vigilante claims hold no ground as recent attacks on Conservative and Reform synagogues have made clear to the few who still held on to this notion.

NOAM, the youth movement of the Masorti (Conservative) movement is not new to religious political activism. While they have always been careful in staying non-partisan regarding Israeli-Palestinian issues, NOAM’s voice was always heard loud and clear when it came to issues of religion and state. Taking an active stance, challenging Israel’s monolithic approach and the stronghold of Orthodox Judaism over other streams and religions. In recent years NOAM’s youth could be seen on the front, fighting for the freedom of marriage, LGBTQ rights and the attempts of various Orthodox parties to censor and segregate women while bringing a fresh pluralistic liberal religious world view to the Israeli public.

In his speech Adam (17 from NOAM’s  Zichron Ya’akov branch ) quoted the declaration of Independence and called for the youth to take action in realization of the values it puts forth.  “The State of Israel will be built upon the foundations of freedom, justice and peace as envisioned by the prophets of Israel… and protect the holy sites of all religions. As youth we must see forth and do all in our power to bring into practice the words of our Prophets that come to light in our State's declaration – Equality and mutual respect for all.”

He called out for all youth movements to not just teach tolerance but to join NOAM and be pro-active in creating high profiled Inter-faith dialog so that the perpetrators of these hideous crimes will see that they stand alone.  “We can’t ignore it… We must confront the violence and hatred that comes from within our midst as we would expect others to do… those who teach hatred in the name of the Torah distorts it’s entire essence. ‘Derachha Darchei  NOAM’, Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”

Adam plans to reach out to USY and to NOAM chapters worldwide in a call of support and encourage them to join NOAM Israel in the effort of creating interfaith dialog.

NOAM teens at the rally.

Swastika’s drawn on the welcome sign of Moreshet Yisrael (Fuchesburg center/Beit Nativ) in Jerusalem.

NOAM chair, Adam Hertzog speaking at the rally last week.

Hayley Nagelburg '15 (Hagalil)

Israel, to me, has always been associated with my being Jewish. The three trips I have taken have been for Jewish observances with family or with my school (a Jewish day school). The experiences and memories I have with Israel all tie in to my Jewish roots- whether it be a Friday night service at the western wall or a Pesach Seder with the family I barely knew - when I think of Israel I think of my Jewish identity.

Jamie Berger '14 (Tzafon)

My Israel story starts on a plane from Poland in the wee hours of the morning next to an enthusiastic boy. Right when I saw the skyline of Tel Aviv, I knew that I was home. For the next four weeks, I explored every cave and market corner with 44 other pilgrims. From conquering Masada to cooling off in Ein Gedi to sleeping under the stars in the Negev, I knew I had found my home and my first love. My Israel story hasn't ended yet though; I still dream about it every night and yearn for it every day.

My Experience at AIPAC Policy Conference

Ari Weinstein '14 (Emtza)

On a flight home from Los Angeles this past August, I convinced Catherine, the woman sitting next to me, to take her next vacation in Israel. I couldn’t help myself -- I’d returned from USY Pilgrimage in Israel two weeks prior, and I was flying home from my internship with StandWithUs, an Israel advocacy company based out of Los Angeles. I had a lot of excitement about Israel and couldn’t help myself but bring up my amazing visit while we talked. What I learned from my conversation with Catherine, was that airplanes are the perfect place to start up a conversation about Israel.

Talking about Israel has become very comfortable for me on airplanes, because I enjoy striking up conversation about Israeli current events, innovations, humanitarianism, and more. When I was heading to AIPAC’s Policy Conference last weekend, I couldn’t help but mention to the the man next to me that I was going to lobby my representatives about Israel legislation. At the conclusion of the conference, participants had the opportunity to travel to Capitol Hill and lobby senators and representatives. I was definitely very excited about the opportunity. Okay, nervous-excited is more accurate. Despite all the times I’ve talked with someone next to me about Israel, I’ve never carried a conversation with a government official about why I believe they should support Israel.

During my visit to the Hill, I had the opportunity to meet with Minnesota senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, where I was part of a delegation of Minnesotans who asked for their support in passing a bill that would promote Israel to the status of “major strategic partner” with the US. According to AIPAC, the designation of major strategic partner expands the US-Israel cooperation in many realms of policy. In addition to meeting with senators Franken and Klobuchar, I had the opportunity to hear representative Ted Deutch, who was one of the bill’s writers, speak about the importance of the US-Israel relationship.

After my day of lobbying, the bill to make Israel a major strategic partner passed overwhelmingly 410-1. This is great news for Israel!

Talking to my elected officials about why they should continue to support Israel was very meaningful to me. It made me realize that any individual has the power to lobby and argue for what they believe in, and it put in perspective the importance of both going to AIPAC and talking to people on airplanes about Israel. For all I know, they may have taken what I told them, found their own passion for Israel, and talked with their own elected officials about why a continued Israel-US relationship is vital to both nations. Whether talking to a senator or a stranger, I now know that every conversation about Israel truly counts.

Deena Kleinstein '15 (Hagalil)

Two years ago in Israel, the Kotel reached into my soul and supplied me with the most touching memory I have ever had. It was my last Shabbos before I would return to America, and my emotions were running wild. 

I was informed that we would be walking back to the hostel at about twelve at night. Capitalizing on the short time we had left, a group of girls and I rushed down to the deserted Kotel and pulled up white plastic chairs. We sat, we sang, we prayed. 

In the moment full of silence and prayer I have never felt closer to Hashem and my heritage. That serene moment at the Kotel will stick with me forever and continue to supply me with smiles every day. I could not be more excited to continue my spiritual journey and love for Israel this summer on USY Israel/Poland Pilgrimage.

Michaela Master '15 (CRUSY)

This is a picture that I took while on Israel Adventure Plus Pilgrimage this past summer. This was the morning after the Desert Experience; our staff had instructed us to pray our own personal shacharit. Everyone really used this opportunity to have some private prayers by setting out all over the canyon. It was a moving experience to see how we were all so spread out- and yet I still felt connected to our prayers nonetheless. This reflects my relationship to Israel: although it might be on the other side of the world, I still feel that I have a personal connection with it, regardless of distance, and enhanced by my religion.

Lessons Learned on the Horizon

Written by Rebecca Perl '15 (CHUSY)

At at least in one point in everyone's life, you have a moment of pure realization. Sometimes these moments are in the grocery store buying peaches; sometimes they are while helping to paint a house; sometimes they are reading a book or straight from waking up from a deep sleep. Sometimes they're in the desert of Mitzpe Ramon at 4:45 in the morning. At least that was when mine was. 

After touring the north of Israel, participating in weeklong IDF training, or Gadna, HaEvent and Free Weekend, visiting Tel Aviv, and beginning a tour of the South, we stopped in Mitzpe Ramon to rappel down cliffs and spend a night sleeping in the desert under the Israeli moon. The afternoon before my "realization," we went rappelling down cliffs. I was very afraid of heights, but I promised myself that I'd do it. Not only did I rappel down that cliff, but I was the first to go. I conquered my fear of heights and I felt awesome. 

That night, I saw the most beautiful sunset of my short 16 years of life. We slept under a clear sky, full of stars, billions of years old, far away in other galaxies. I spent most of the time awake, staring up at the amazing sky. It was true perfection. The next morning, our staff woke us up super early to daven shacharit by ourselves while watching the sunrise. I chose a spot away from everyone else, and instead of doing traditional prayers, I sang songs that I felt spiritually connected to. When I ran out of those, I sat and thought. 

Last year was a difficult one in terms of everything, and I know I do not want a repeat of last year. I thought about how I can become a better person, how I can change my ways to be the best I can be, and how I can help myself and all of the people around me. 

From that moment forward, it has been what I strive to do. These moments spent alone and together with friends in the desert and all around Israel were the moments that meant the most on Pilgrimage. They are moments that I will look back on in 20 years and I will know then, as I know now, that they were life changing. I learned that things can be fixed. I learned to look at things with clearer eyes. Most importantly, I learned that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And we, as the Jewish people, hold a vast amount of beauty. Because Israel is all ours.

Ethiopian Immigrants to Israel Struggle with Acceptance

Written by Hayley Nagelberg (Hagalil)

Many of you may be familiar with “Operation Moses” or “Operation Solomon," but what do you know about “Operation Dove”?

The Israeli “Law of Return” states that anyone who is a quarter Jewish - meaning that he or she has at least one Jewish grandparent - can make aliyah.  So what happens when people claim they WERE Jewish, or who USED to be Jewish but converted in order to avoid persecution?

Operation Dove’s Wings, completed this past August, brought over 7,800 Falash Mura to Israel.  These people, like the Beta Israel, practiced Judaism years ago; however unlike the Beta Israel, they accepted conversion to Christianity. 

Israeli political heads debated for years whether to allow this group of Ethiopians to make aliyah.  The eventual conclusion was that if they could trace their Jewish Identities through their mothers’ side, they could come to Israel.  This decision was based on the fact that Judaism teaches that Jewish lineage is derived from the mother’s side.  In addition, there is a concept, “zera yisrael”, which holds that if you have a relationship to the Jewish faith, you are welcome in Israel.  If they qualify for entry, when these Ethiopians reach Israel, they are required to undergo a conversion process to Orthodox Judaism.

While this ruling seems to be clear and fair as to who is welcome, it has been fraught with many problems.  As the process of review and admission has taken many years, new children have been born to these Ethiopians waiting to make aliyah, and these children may not fit the criteria that have been established for entry to the Jewish state.  Siblings have been split up because they have different fathers; and others have been reunited, but only after years of protest.

Setting aside the controversies that have taken place before the Operation began, there is even more controversy as it comes to an end.  First, some members of the Beta Israel community feel it is not right that these Ethiopians were allowed to immigrate.  They do not think of them as Jews in the same respect as they consider themselves.  They feel that the Israeli government was too lenient, and now will find that there are many more Ethiopians claiming to be Jews.  The new protocol stipulates that Ethiopians wishing to immigrate must apply individually, have some form of family in Israel apply for them, AND be able to trace back their matrilineal lineage.  Some people feel that even with these steps in place, Ethiopians will claim to be people they are not.

For the Falash Mura who worked so hard to get to Israel, they too are faced by many of the problems typical of new immigrants.  They feel they are not accepted; they have had to adjust so many of their customs and ways of life that they don’t feel comfortable in Israel. 

Another group still struggling is the Falash Mura who were denied entrance to Israel.  They agreed to learn the Jewish ways [again] in their country, and held out hope for years that they would be allowed to make aliyah.  Now they are left with new Jewish faith in a country that doesn't support their beliefs.  Some of them still have family by their side, but for others, their family is in Israel.

Since 2010, hundreds of Ethiopians have come over to Israel each month as part of Operation Dove.  Although their road to the Promised Land has not been easy, they have come freely.  This past August 28^th the last 450 olim came to Israel, thus ending the Operation.  Now there are over 7500 new Israelis, making their way as Jews in the Jewish land. And yet, the challenges associated with Operation Dove remain a persistent challenge of our times.

                 Hayley Nagelberg is a junior at the Golda Och Academy in West Orange New Jersey. She works with both Israel Clubs at her school (Israel club and Israel advocacy club). She is also her USY chapter's IA and the Hagalil Hechalutzim chairperson for the year.







My TRY Experience

Written by Sarah Cline (Tzafon)

My name is Sarah Cline, I'm 15 years old, in 10th grade and I have found myself having the time of my life in Israel. Two summers ago, Moshe Golde (one of my amazing teachers) 

came to my summer camp, Camp Ramah in Canada, and told me about a program called Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim (Ramah High School in Jerusalem). I fell in love with the idea of coming to Israel for four months not only to study, but also to learn Hebrew and travel around the country. The TRY program includes all of my everyday classes from Penfield High School, plus Hebrew and ICC. ICC stands for Israel Core Course. With ICC, we go on field trips every Tuesday and Thursday to sites in Israel. We learn in a chronological order, starting from the Tanach all the way to modern times.

I have already gone to so many places while learning as much as possible. We went to the Kotel, the Old City, Ein Gedi, Masada, Eilat, Safed, the Israel Museum, Yad Vashem, Kibbutzim and Be’er Sheva. We walked through tunnels, went on archeological digs, cooked and ate in a Bedouin tent, hiked sea to sea, rappelled in the Golan, canoed on the Jordan River. I experienced Purim, Pesach, Yom Ha’Shoah, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Shabbat in Israel. Experiencing an entire country stopping to honor and remember those who have fallen is two minutes I will never forget. Those are only a few select examples. This morning I was in an army base in Sde Boker for Gadna. We were there for five days in an army training experience that is built for teenagers. We learned discipline, IDF values, training, field skills, and how to shoot a gun! It was a new, fun experience that I know most other kids will never get the chance to try. I feel like TRY is meant for teens to gain experiences. Sure, there's still school and everyday chores and activities, but TRY lets kids be more independent. We live in dorms, which is a great community experience. TRY gives teens unforgettable moments that let them grow as an individual.

Sarah is currently a junior from Tzafon who will be a member on USYs delegation to the AIPAC High School summit this November.

The Yom Kippur War: Forty Years Out

Written by Michael Anfang (Hanefesh IA)

            Many look at the Yom Kippur war as a defeat; something to be mourned rather than celebrated.  I consent that we did not win this strife with the Arab nations as handily as we did in 1967, however Israel is still alive and just as strong, if not stronger, than it was on the ninth of Tishrei, 5734 (October 5, 1973).  I then propose that we look at this war and what it means given the modern situation.

            After the Six Days War (June 5-10, 1967), Egypt and Syria were constantly lamenting their loss of territory to Israel.  Egypt’s Sadat made constant threats to regain the land that they lost, with actual military planning beginning in 1971.   Syria, who had been Egypt’s ally ever since the time of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961), was also not happy about losing the Golan in the 1967 war and released aggressive rhetoric, albeit less aggressive than that of Sadat.  In the days and weeks leading up to Yom Kippur, both Egypt and Syria conducted military exercises close to the border that included many reservists.  Many in the Israeli government, including Prime Minister Golda Meir, brushed these exercises as simply normal drills (at this time many countries, including Israel, would have exercises like these near their borders).  On Yom Kippur morning Meir, Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, and IDF Chief of Staff David Elazar met to discuss the possibility of a pre-emptive strike against Syria.  Dayan told Meir that war was not necessarily imminent while Elazar argued to strike Syrian air, missile and ground forces all that day.  Obviously Meir sided with Dayan and thus the Arabs were given the first opportunity to strike.

            At 2:00 pm on October 6^th, the Egyptian Air Force sent two hundred planes on a bombing mission to destroy Israeli targets.   Over the next three hours, Egypt sent over thirty thousand soldiers into the Sinai to attack the Israeli fortifications known as the Bar Lev Line.  Through the night, Egypt breached the Bar Lev Line and brought in hundreds of tanks and thousands of soldiers.  Over the next few days Israel held their ground with some casualties on both sides until Israel broke through with an offensive on October 14^th.  Starting on October 14^th, the IDF pierced a hole in the Egyptian ranks and, with the help of the IAF’s aerial support, drove the Egyptian army back.  By October 23^rd, the UN Security Council had passed a resolution for a ceasefire, which was immediately ignored by Egypt and Israel had pushed Egypt back to the 1967 borders and surrounded Egypt’s 3^rd army.  By October 28^th, after heavy efforts by the United States, a ceasefire was declared between Egypt and Israel and lasted until the more permanent treaty was signed in January of 1974.

            The northern front followed a pattern fairly similar to that of the southern front.  In the first couple of days, Syrian forces engaged thousands of tanks and infantrymen in the Golan and captured several key Israeli strongholds.  Israeli tanks and fortifications holding back massive Syrian forces until they were overwhelmed characterized the first couple days of the northern fight.  By the end of October 8^th, Israeli reservists had arrived and started pushing the Syrians back; the forces were at the 1967 lines by October 10^th.  Between October 11^th and October 14^th Israeli forces advanced towards Damascus, and at their closest point were shelling the Syrian capital at a distance of only 40km.  This offensive push into Syria incited Iran and Jordan to put men on the ground against Israel, although neither nation used many resources.  Over the nine days following October 14^th, Israel was attempting to rid the Golan of Syrian forces (it reclaimed Mr. Hermon on October 22^nd), while Arab forces were attempting to push Israel out of 1967 Syria.  Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad (Bashar’s father) accepted the ceasefire on October 23^rd and Iraq and Jordan followed suit.

            After many ceasefires had been called and it was looking as though the dust was settling, US Secretary of State Harry Kissinger (who won the Nobel Peace Prize for withdrawing from Vietnam) made a major effort for all the countries to sign peace deals.  Israel signed a peace treaty with Egypt in 1978 (Camp David Accords with Carter, Sadat, and Begin) and a treaty with Jordan in 1994 (Clinton, Hussein, and Rabin).  Israel and Syria have never signed a treaty.  Over the course of nineteen days, approximately 2,500 Israeli soldiers were lost while around 15,000 Arab (Egyptian, Syrian, Iraqi, and Jordanian) soldiers were lost. 

            So what does this mean for us in 5774?  As the tenth of Tishrei approaches we face a similar menace to that of forty years ago.  The IDF is receiving major cuts due to Israel’s national debt and Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s draconian budget cuts.  ­Israel does not need fewer defenses these days, but rather it needs its protectors more than ever.  The Shia crescent is becoming stronger by the day, even considering the weakened stance of Syrian President Bashar Al- Assad.  There is no political power in the office of the President of Iran; all real power rests in the hands of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini.  This means that nuclear reactors will keep spinning with the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program sprinting towards wielding the greatest weapon known to mankind.  The Shia crescent is not limited to Iran and Syria, but also includes Hezbollah, with both Israeli intelligence and it’s chief Hassan Nasrallah claiming that the terrorist organization possesses tens of thousands of missiles, all of which are aimed at Israel.  With turmoil in Syria, the possibility of Hezbollah gaining access to Assad’s vast supply of chemical weapons is more and more looming.

            The threats are not solely exterior, but also interior.  Ethnicity based clashes and vandalisms are becoming more and more common, not just on the Israeli side but also the Arab side.  Israeli extremists vandalize Muslim property on a regular basis in what are known as “price tag attacks”, which most often occur in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem.  These Israelis are called terrorists by the left but patriots by the right.  They are working against the Islamic threat posed by the “Palestinians”.  On the second day of Rosh Hashanah this year, Arabs were stoning Israeli security officers who were simply guarding the Western Wall area of the Temple Mount.  It shows that, although we would love to believe otherwise, those people have not changed.  We would love to have a peace deal with every country in the world, including the possibility of a Palestinian state, but we cannot do so with countries that will not even recognize our right to exist. 

            So then I ask that this weekend when you are in shul for Yom Kippur to think about Israel’s future.  Should we continue to rest on our laurels and not prepare for the challenges at hand in the hope that we can squeak out another victory as we did in 1973?  Or should we act now and repeat 1967?  Will you tell your children and grandchildren about how you pushed for Israel to allow a terrorist state within its historical and legal borders, or how you kept all of the Holy Land as Israel?  Will you stand idly by while Israel stares down the threat of Iran, or will you tell your politicians that we cannot accept this major threat to global security?  I beg of you to not sit on your hands with your head in the sand, but rather open your eyes and do something.  If not for yourself, then for Israel.  We have the power to put our voices (and our dollars) to use in strengthening the State of Israel.  The last question is for how long can we inscribe Israel into the Book of Life? The answer to that is up to you.

Shanah tova.

 

Michael Anfang is the USY International Chair for Israel Promotions 2013, USY International Co-Chair of Israel Challenge 2013, and Hanefesh USY Israel Affairs Vice President 2013-2014.  He is also Senior Middle East Fellow at the Longmeadow Secondary International Organization. "All opinions expressed are my own and do not intend to reflect the views and/or policies of USY on this matter."

 

Israel National Team Invites USY

Check out USY's personal invite to the Israel vs. Honduras soccer game this Sunday:

And don't forget to buy tickets at: tinyurl.com/ISRsoccer

Israel Plays Honduras Next Month at Citifield- Come and Show Your Support!

Written by Isabel Malmazada (METNY)

Next month, the Israeli National Soccer Team will play a friendly game against Honduras on June 2^nd, at the Citified Stadium in New York, just hours after the Israeli Day Parade.

This is Israel’s first time playing in New York in over thirty-five years; however, the game is just a warm up for the World Cup qualifiers. The Israeli national team is ranked No. 66 in the world and is led by coach Eli Guttman.

On May 13^th, Coach Eli Guttman along with player Daniel Amos held a phone call press conference in anticipation of the game. I had the privilege of being able to call in on this conference and ask them what their message is for the USY-ers and Schechter students from all over the region that are coming out to support Israel.

“The message [for the USY-ers] is [that] our country is a strong country. We want to develop our football and we want to show quality,” said Guttman, “For us, it’s very, very important that the young Jewish people that will come will leave the stadium proud about Israel’s national team.”

USY has built up a strong relationship with the Israel Football Association, and USY-ers will have the opportunity to partake in honorary roles before the game, like singing the Hatikvah.

I further asked what it means to be playing the same day as the Israeli day parade.

“It’s our job to represent Israeli football and the Israeli country as strong and professional,” said Guttman, “and one who is the best.”

Coincidentally, the New York region hosts the largest Jewish populations outside of Israel with more than 1.5 million Jews living in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County.  

So, it’s going to be a great game next month! Check out USY’s personal invite to the game next month:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-Bksv7QQCUU 

and make sure to get your tickets at: tinyrul.com/ISRsoccer

The Good Life

Written by Alex Good (Hagesher)

An experience I will never forget was being able to go on a USY Poland/Israel Pilgrimage Second Departure. Among many experiences, those that influenced me the most were trips to Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Visiting Mount Hertzel Cemetery in Israel blindsided me with a connection that was closer than I thought.

While in Poland we went to Auschwitz I. We walked up to the gate and saw “Arbeit Macht Frei”- “Work will set you free”. The sign I've often heard of was right in front of me, a historical symbol of Nazi inhumanity. The barracks held display cases filled with items collected from the prisoners. One case contained crutches, prosthetic legs and feet. Thinking about how these life-aiding items were forcibly removed from them evoked a sense of rage within me. When I approached the case full of hair, I witnessed my friend crying and saw another friend hug and console her. I arrived in a narrow hallway with cases on both sides containing mounds of shoes. When my friend put his around me, I realized that was the first true bonding experience of the trip. At that moment I started to cry.

                   

Our next destination was Auschwitz II-Birkenau. I walked in and saw the train tracks; an instant blow to the heart. The feeling that overcame me when I saw those train tracks, was one I will never have again. One of my counselors looked at me, saw that I was upset, and tied an Israeli flag onto my backpack. I walked onto the train tracks, with the wind blowing at the flag and I was immediately calmed. Even though I had not yet been to Israel and didn't have a strong emotional connection, standing on the tracks where thousands of Jewish people were systematically murdered, learning their history and honoring their memories laid the foundation for my evolving connection to Israel.

            

In Israel we visited Mount Hertzel Cemetery where fallen IDF soldiers are buried. Michael Levin was the son of a family in our community and the brother of one of my Hebrew school teachers.  When I approached his grave, the first thing I saw was an Eagles hat. Knowing Michael was an avid Philadelphia sports fan my first reaction was to smile. Without thinking I took my Flyers hat off and set it down next to his grave. Only then, realizing how similar our experiences were, did I begin to cry. Our connection runs much deeper than growing up in the same community; Michael also went on USY Poland/Israel Pilgrimage. 

These experiences impacted me in the way that made me realize I am a part of something bigger than myself. It reminds me of an important Jewish concept, L’dor V’dor: From Generation to Generation. I am proud to link my experiences with those of generations past.  I am proud to be able to tell my stories to future generations. I am proud to be Jewish.