>> ... Next Generation ...
Jesse Kavieff of West Bloomfield, Dor Herzog of Jezreel Valley, Liel
Boris of Nazareth IIlit, Lena Matviyenko of Midgal HaEmek, Jacob Sikora
and Sam Bonin, both of West Bloomfield, on a hike in Ein Ovdat
Participants enjoy a scenic view of Jerusalem outside Yad Vashem.
Ronit Weinmann of Huntington Woods, Yuval Moyal of Jezreel Valley and Hila Mazuz of
Migdal HaEmek in the Pioneer Museum in the Central Galilee Partnership Region
American staff: Shosh Cohen Silberstein of NEXTGen Detroit, Eviatar Baksis of Hillel
of Metro Detroit and Becky Hurvitz of NEXTGen Detroit.
10 Days in Israel from page 46
to them — be it Shabbat dinners, Hebrew
classes, internships in Israel, a NEXTGen bar
night or HMD programs."
The 35 American participants, all from
Metro Detroit or with ties to the area, were
joined by eight Israeli participants from the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's
partnership region in the Central Galilee.
Israelis and Americans traveled together
for all 10 days, spent a full day touring the
partnership region and experienced a home
hospitality night — features that are all
special to the NEXTGen Detroit community
trips.
"We got to see, feel and taste the land
of Israel, and with the Israelis on our trip,
we also got to know the hearts, minds and
personalities of the people of Israel," said
Amanda Sweet of West Bloomfield. "Being
together with our Israeli friends for the whole
trip and then having dinner with them in
their homes with their families, I really saw
48
February 5 • 2015
how much we all have in
to both sides, and I know it
common. Some things are
has opened my eyes to all the
just universal, whether
different ways there are to
you're a young adult in the
embrace Judaism."
Central Galilee or Metro
Another component that is
Detroit."
exclusive to NEXTGen Detroit's
While many trips have
community trips is the Detroit
Israelis join for a short leg
Mifgash, which brings the
of the journey, Israeli and
Israeli participants from all
American participants are
three annual trips to Detroit for
together for the entire
a week-long program. Israelis
time on NEXTGen Detroit
reunite with their Detroit
community trips, allowing
friends, and together they see
Rachel Sweet of West
for a level of friendship to
all that the Detroit community
Bloomfield writes a note to has to offer, from Jewish life
develop that just can't be
put in the Kotel.
achieved in a few days.
Downtown to Tamarack Camps.
"Touring Israel with
"The bonds that are
my new American friends, I saw my country
created on our trips are truly exceptional,"
through their eyes, and I fell in love with it
said Yoav Raban, Federation's Outreach
even more," said Inbar Ribenzon of Jezreel
and Engagement coordinator in Israel. "The
Valley, Israel. "I feel that the partnership
Mifgash program really allows our Detroit
between our communities offers so much
and Israeli participants to continue to build
on the powerful relationships that they
develop in Israel, turning them into lifelong
friendships and lifelong connections to both
communities."
Scott Mahler of West Bloomfield said,
"Before this trip, I had little to no connection
with my Jewish identity, and I didn't care
to build one. This experience has given me
such a deep connection to Israel and to my
cultural identity as a Jew. It really has been
life changing. I urge everyone who can to
take advantage of this amazing gift."
Registration for the Detroit Community
trips departing in May and June is now
open for those ages 21-26. For information
about registration,visit jewishdetroit.org/
birthright2015, or contact Shosh Cohen
Silberstein at silberstein@jfmd.org or (248)
203-1483. ❑
Becky Hurvitz is the online content
associate for NEXTGen Detroit.