Metro

Teens

Lasting Impression

Teen mission goers are personally affected by Israel.

Teen Mission 2004, sponsored by the
Jewish Federation ofMetropolitan
Detroit, Sam and Jean Frankel and
the Detroit Jewish News in partner-
ship with metro Detroit congregations,
lefiJune 30fir more than a month of
travel and study in Israel. Special
Writer Gayle Barris, 19, of White
Lake, is one of several teens sharing
her experience with IN readers.

way. We've created new friendships,
overcome challenges and have
learned to appreciate Israel like
never before.
Whether it was the moment in
the desert lying under an entire sky
full of stars or taking those last
challenging steps up to the top of
Masada together, we have con-
quered it all.
Gayle Barris
Each and every one of us will be
he beauty of silence is
taking home a piece of the land, a
unlike anything else in the
piece of Israeli culture and a piece
world.
of one's own identity. We will step off the
If I close my eyes, it all comes back to me so
plane united as one group and encourage our
perfect and clear: my feet dangling over a lone-
friends and family to take the step toward
ly cliff, hair being lifted up into the clear, crisp
experiencing Israel as we have.
air.
Israel is an absolute surreal place, one that
I was faced with the existence of the
amazes me beyond what words can describe.
Mediterranean Sea in complete solitude.
And Federation's 2004 Teen Mission has been
Experiencing this incredible moment for the
magical. The only way to hold on to this expe-
first time in my life, I was able to connect with
rience is to bring it back with us and into our
God. I opened my mouth and I said the words
daily living. In doing so, we will be ready to
of the Shema out loud.
lend a voice to our community, a community
Life at that moment was beyond anything I
dedicated to our journey.
could have ever imagined. Now as I'm headed
Grateful for the opportunity to explore our
home soon, I will carry with me a part of Israel
Jewish identity, we not only bring home a
that will forevet be treasured inside my heart.
stronger sense of who we are, but a deep love
. Every single person on this mission has
for our community and Israel. ❑
experienced Israel in his or her own individual
— Gayle Barth, 19, White Lake

T

Clockwise from top right:
Todd Gerson, 16, of Walled Lake, Scott
Fink, 17, of Bloomfield Hills and Rachel
Welford, 17, of Franklin point to a sign
showing directions to different countries
from Mt. Ben-Tal in the Golan.

7/30
2004

26

Gayle Barris, 19, of White Lake laughs
while her sister, Kelsey Barris, 16, waves
from their raft in the Jordan River.

Dean Perach, 18, of Farmington Hills and
Jake Seidman, 17, of West Bloomfield chal-
lenge each other with wooden poles while
visiting the Israeli Scouts Summer Camp at
Ofer Forest in the Carmel.