On Campus
Taglit-Birthright Israel Trips
Inspire MSU Hillel Students
Alexandra Kirsch
Special to the Jewish News
East Lansing
M
ichigan State University's Hillel,
like many others, is a seasoned
trip provider through Taglit-
Birthright Israel, and has led two trips per
year since Birthright's launch in 1999. In
fact, MSU Hillel has an impressive record
of Birthright alums who become active as
volunteers or professionals within Jewish
organizations, like Hillel.
"We've had students who make aliyah,
students who go back to Israel to par-
ticipate in Otzma, some attend rabbinic
school, and many join Hillel professional
staffs:' said Cindy Hughey, executive direc-
tor of MSU Hillel.
Marisa Saltzman, 27, formerly of
East Lansing and now a resident of
Washington, D.C., went on a Birthright trip
with MSU Hillel during the summer of
2001. Prior to traveling to Israel, Saltzman
wasn't particularly active with Hillel. But
the Birthright trip provided an opportu-
nity for her to socialize and to explore her
Jewish identity. "Because of Birthright, I
was able to learn about Judaism firsthand:'
Saltzman said. "And I connected with
Jewish kids from the Detroit area that I
had seen at Hiller
When she returned to East Lansing, she
became more interested and involved in
MSU Hillel programming and activities.
Saltzman subsequently held positions
ranging from social chair to vice president
of the Jewish Student Union and also
became politically active on campus. In
her senior year, she decided to apply at
Eastern Michigan University Hillel as a
program associate.
After spending a year at EMU Hillel
and three at MSU Hillel as the program
director, Saltzman earned a master's in
social work from MSU and is now a plan-
ning associate for the Jewish Federation of
On MSU's Birthright trip last May are, from left, Kari Rothenberg, Abbey Askotzky,
Ashley Schwartz, Paula Brickner, Nicole Marsch, Emily Jaffe and Jillian Blitz, all of
West Bloomfield.
Greater Washington.
Ricky Kamil, 23, of Commerce went on
Birthright during the summer of 2007.
Before the trip, Kamil was president of
Kesher, the Reform movement on cam-
pus, and after Birthright ran for and was
elected president of the JSU.
"I'd like to think that I had significant
knowledge of Judaism before the trip, but
the experience of being in Israel and see-
ing what we saw definitely enhanced my
thinking and beliefs."
After graduating from Michigan State
University in May 2008 with a degree
in interdisciplinary humanities, Kamil
went to work for EMU Hillel as program
associate, where he produces one Israeli-
themed program per semester. He thinks
it's important to encourage students to
go on the Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. He
feels every Jewish student should have the
opportunity to experience Israel.
While Kamil and Saltzman are gradu-
ates who opt to work within the Jewish
community, Birthright alumni who have
yet to graduate often become active lead-
ers at MSU Hillel.
Michelle Sudit, 21, of Buffalo, N.Y., went
on the MSU Hillel Taglit-Birthright trip
last summer hoping to learn more about
her Jewish roots and also to make new
friends. "I wish I could have extended my
trip:' Sudit said, "I didn't want to come
home from the 'summer of a lifetime.'
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