for college students by college students Meaningful Trip AJC program gives student a view of Jewish India. Shelley Rosenberg I jewish@edu staff writer Ann Arbor A fter completing their army service, our group coined the "trilateral" relationship between the American Jewish community, Israel and India. many young Israelis travel to India to unwind before beginning college or seeking employment. I have always been intrigued by the "Israeli inva- sion" to India. It is a country few of my Jewish As AJC Asia Pacific Institute Director Jim Busis explained, "The US-India-Israel strategic rela- tionship, linking three great democracies that share the same values and similar concerns, will friends have visited or have on their to-do travel lists. be an increasingly important factor in global politics in the coming decades." When I learned about the American Jewish Committee (AJC) trip to India early last month, The group also had the opportunity to meet with Mark Sofer, Israel's ambassador to India, as well as Orna Sagiv, Israel's consul general. I seized the opportunity to find out what the Israeli attraction to India was all about. As part of AJC's ACCESS New Generation Program, a national initiative geared to up-and- We resolved to wake up at 5 a.m. and be part of the first cohort of tourists to view the "Taj" that day. Our exhaustion and frustra- tion was allayed after one look. Its beauty and splendor is truly stag- gering. For a typically talkative bunch, we fell largest English news source in the world; tour- ing the Dharavi slum where Slumdog Millionaire was filmed; visiting the Observer Research Foundation, the premier nonprofit in India; with Indian political leaders, diplomats and jour- nalists. Beginning in bustling Mumbai and end- meeting with officials at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian equivalent to the ing in the capital, New Delhi, we also interacted with the Indian Jewish community. And we also U.S. State Department; and celebrating Holi, the Hindu festival of colors where the streets are came in contact with many Israelis. While I recognize my short trip to India was filled with strangers splattering each other with bright-colored paint to collectively welcome spring. ture. Further, I have come to understand what pm. The gates to the Taj Mahal closed at 6! Other highlights included meeting with edi- tors and reporters from the Times of India, the coming Jewish leaders ages 20-40, I traveled with a delegation of 12 young Jewish profes- sionals. During our 10-day trip, we engaged vastly different from that of my Israeli peers, I share an appreciation for India's unique cul- was disappointed when we finally arrived at 6:15 The delegation also lit memorial candles at the Chabbad House of Mumbai in memory of Shelley Rosenberg at the Taj Mahal while on an AJC trip. the 165 individuals who perished during the infamous 2008 terrorist attack. Of course, a visit to India would not be com- plete without the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. After a two-hour delayed flight the previous day, coupled with a truly indescribable traffic jam on the way, our group WHEN THINGS GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT DON'T DEPEND ON A SECURITY SYSTEM THAT DEPENDS ON A PHONE LINE. The truth is phone lines are less reliable then ever. Many of us are now using, or switching over to VoIP or digital phone service. Do you want to rely on limited, or no alarm service when you really need it? Vigilante Security provides high-quality alarm monitoring without a phone line, using high- speed internet or built-in cellular. The cost to switch is affordable. Call Ron Ross, President of Vigilante Security to upgrade or install the most advanced security system available. Call 1-800-589-7100 www.vigsec.com s wag, goaffrk Commercial I Residential I High Quality Security Systems 52 April 1 • 2010 silent and listened as our tour guide relayed the story of Emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. When we think back on our trip to India, the structure's image is indelibly sketched into our memories. If you are interested in AJC's ACCESS pro- gram, contact Kari Alterman at (248) 646-7686 or Detroit@ajc.org . Shelley Rosenberg of West Bloomfield is a senior at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.