Eye-Opening

After a two-week jaunt to the Jewish state, some students start to consider observing more mitzvot.

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN STAFF WRITER

A

trip to Israel can change you. And
it often does, especially for Amer-
ican Jews who want more of
something Jewish in their lives
but are not quite sure what, how or why.
If a Machon L'Torah journey to Israel
opens a student's eyes to a new side of
Judaism, Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz
won't mind a bit.
"If that trip helps Jewish students un-
derstand why they're Jewish and why
they should be active in their local or-
ganizations, Hillel houses, I feel I've ac-
complished something in any way that
they feel more Jewishly connected," says
Rabbi Jacobovitz, director of Machon
L'Torah, the Jewish Learning Network.
No one has become fully observant
since returning from a late December
two-week trip, but several students have
thought about it. And for "Rabbi J.,"
that's enough for now.
"I find it to be the most powerful tool
that we have, to connect Jewish students
with both Jewish heritage and Israel be-
cause there's nothing like being there,
walking in the same places where our
forefathers, foremothers walked," says
the rabbi. •
"What I hope for is that the students

will upgrade their Jewish awareness and
pride, be proud of being Jewish. Now to
what degree they take that and how it
affects their life varies. In a group of 10,
you might have two who become obser-
vant Jews. Most of them connect with
Israel, go back there, join efforts on be-
half of Israel and encourage others to go
to Israel."
Rabbi Jacobovitz takes at least one
group of students, ages 18-26, to Israel
each year. This year there may be two
more trips — one in May and another in
August. Any student at a Michigan uni-
versity is welcome.
"I call it a seminar on wheels," says
Rabbi Jacobovitz. The students are con-
stantly asking questions, talking and
discussing Jewish history, culture and
politics. They also catch a glimpse of an
observant lifestyle, staying with fami-
lies for Shabbat in Jerusalem and Safed.
Several students who went on the re-
cent trip say they have entertained
thoughts of becoming more observant.
Some have even acted on it.
"I've always said I want to many Jew-
ish, but this really showed me that
maybe I should only date Jewish peo-
ple," says University of Michigan fresh-

man Emily Greenberg, 18. "I felt the trip
focused a lot on marrying in the faith and
how most Americans are marrying out
of the faith, and how we need to keep the
Jewish population alive."
Michael Harmatz, 28, was raised Or-
thodox in Asbury Park, N.J., but has
moved away from observance, especial-
ly living in Lansing as a second-year stu-
dent at Cooley Law School. "Now I feel
myself coming back — I have woken up
from my spiritual slumber," he says.
It's the sense of community he found
in Israel, says Mr. Harmatz.
"I don't have that here in Lansing. It's
very easy to be an observant Jew in Is-
rael, but coming back to the United
States where I can't even find kosher
meat, it's really difficult — and I live
right next door to Meijer's and Kroger's,
within walking distance."
Jennifer Yellin, a 19-year-old U-M
sophomore, says had she stayed in Israel
longer, she probably would have become
more observant.
"One thing that I've completely gained
since going to Israel is a sense of my na-
tionality as a Jew toward Israel. Be-
forehand I was just like, 'Oh, Israel, there
are things going on there. Big deal.' But

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now, I feel so much more connected to
Israel.
'When I just saw on the newscast that
the 73 soldiers died [in a helicopter
crash], I was almost ready to cry. I
could've met these people," says Ms.
Yellin, a native of Farmington Hills.
For Zack Ostroff, it's a similar story.
Surrounded by Jews, the 24-year-old
Lawrence Technological University se-
nior says, "You kind of feel like an out-
cast if you're not wearing your
yarmulke."
But it's not just peer pressure that in-
gpired Mr. Ostroff.
"I had Shabbos dinner one night in
some people's house overlooking the
[Western] Wall — that was kind of over-
whelming. You got a real sense of be-
longing."
That type of experience has inspired
him to light Shabbat candles and attend
services. Growing up Reform in South-
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the trip, Mr. Ostroff has gone to Temple
Beth El Friday night services a couple
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"I don't think I could become more Or-
thodox, but I'd like to become more re-
ligious than I was before," he says.
Why? Observing the rituals that Jews
have kept for thousands of years brings
"something more spiritual" into his life,
"something that I can be proud of, that
my ancestors believed in."
Rabbi J. agrees that a visit to the Jew-
ish state "does wonders." He tells stories
of "incredible thank-you letters" students

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