>> ... Next Generation ...
10 Days In srae
NEXTGen
Detroit's
Community
Birthright trips make
lifelong connections.
Sisters Katya and
Masha Titova of Oak
Park share a camel
ride in the Negev
Desert.
BECKY HURVITZ I SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
NEXTGen
i Detroit
W
On top of Masada: Ryan Jelinowicz and Scott Mettler, both of West Jack Silver of Huntington Woods floats in the Dead Sea.
Bloomfield, flank Israeli tour guide Shai Goren.
D
ig out your suitcase and brush
off your hiking boots, the 2015
Taglit-Birthright Israel season
has officially begun. Now
in its 15th year, "Birthright," as it is most
commonly known in the U.S., has sent nearly
a half-million young Jews from all 50 states
and 66 countries to discover Israel — the
land, the people, the history and the feeling
of coming home.
"For many young adults, there is a
void of Jewish experiences between their
bar/bat mitzvahs until they are under a
wedding chuppah, and this stretch of time
can be as long as 20 years," said Shosh
Cohen Silberstein, NEXTGen Detroit's Israel
Experience associate. "Taglit-lsrael Birthright
trips have become major milestones for Jews
in their 20s and are often critical in keeping
those who are active in Jewish life involved
and inspiring those who are unaffiliated
to reconnect with their Jewish identity and
community."
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit's NEXTGen Detroit offers three
community Taglit-Israel Birthright trips every
year. The most recent trip, sent in partnership
with Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD), returned
home on Jan. 2.
"I specifically went on the Detroit
community trip with the hope of forging
friendships with people from the area. I came
back with a family," said Timothy Hertzberg
of Ortonville. "I not only have a deeper
connection to Israel after the trip, but I also
feel far more connected to our local Jewish
community."
A variety of Taglit-Birthright Israel
programs are available, from community
to special interests trips. They all begin
with a generous gift in the form of a free,
10-day trip and share similar itineraries
with iconic destinations like the Dead
Sea, the Kotel, Masada and, of course, a
camel ride. Important conversations about
identity, history, politics and religion are key
components of most trips. But not all Taglit-
Birthright Israel programs are the same.
"The [Detroit community] trip was one
jam-packed day after the other, and even
with our busy schedule, the staff really helped
us interpret and experience Israel in our own
way," said Lauren Mehringer of Ferndale.
"I returned to Detroit with a huge group of
new friends and a sense of belonging to my
Jewish community in a way that I've never
felt before."
One unique and important component
of the Detroit community Taglit-Birthright
Israel experience is the commitment to post-
trip follow up, which works to answer the
question that so many participants come
back asking: "Now what?"
"Before my trip, Birthright just seemed like
a great way to see the sites in Israel," said
Liz McAlister of Detroit. "I never thought I
would return to Detroit with this newfound
excitement to further explore my roots and
my faith; but I'm thrilled that I have, and I
can't wait to see where it takes me."
NEXTGen Detroit has made Taglit-
Birthright Israel programming a priority,
recognizing that quality content and
leadership on a trip are critical to creating
meaningful experiences and that post-trip
engagement is what transforms a 10-day
adventure into a lifetime of memories.
"In addition to a licensed Israeli tour
guide, we staff our trips with local Jewish
communal professionals who not only
help with logistics and serve as educators,
but most importantly are there to form
real relationships with the participants,"
Silberstein said. "Getting to know the group
members individually allows us to help them
plug into the Detroit community and stay
connected to Israel and to each other in ways
that are personally interesting and significant
10 Days in Israel on page 48
46
February 5 • 2015