viewpoints
>> Send letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com
guest column
Enhancing The Birthright Experience
W
alking into the Chicago con-
ference center on the first
day of the Birthright Israel
Fellows conference, I could tell this would
be a different type of learning experience.
At each seat were a backpack, pens and
a placemat, similar to those you see in a
kibbutz dining hall. The placemat said,
"The Journey Begins. What do you hope
to learn over the next four days?"
The opening icebreaker included
answering that question and sharing the
response with those at our table. This
intensive four-day seminar to enhance
our skills as Birthright staff was the cul-
mination of a four-month process that
included two online modules of work, the
first relating to storytelling and the other
to Israeli geography, history and general
knowledge.
The next four days were a combination
of large group presentations by leading
Israeli and informal education profession-
als, small group reflections and practical
application of the theories and skills, net-
working with fellows from across North
America and very little sleep.
In our first group session, we were
challenged by Dr. Zohar Raviv,
the experience back home for par-
international vice president of
ticipants. At the end of the session,
education for Taglit-Birthright
Aliza Goodman, lead staff from the
Israel, to ask ourselves the fol-
iCenter for Israel Education, said,
lowing question: Am I fully
"We are creating tangible memo-
committed to the Jewish nar-
ries. Think about when someone
rative of my own life to go
asks you about your necklace and
through the humbling process
you touch it; that's what we are
before I ask my Birthright par-
doing here
Audrey
I believe in that. The Birthright
ticipants to do the same?
Bloomberg
As a Jewish educator, I have
Israel trip is so packed full of expe-
to live the story, not just tell the
riences, my job as a staff person
story. For Birthright, it is important for
is to help facilitate the tangible memory-
making.
a staff person to be comfortable in his or
her own Judaism before asking partici-
One of the best things about the confer-
pants to look at their Jewish experience.
ence was the time to connect with other
Individuals go on Birthright Israel with a
Jewish professionals from across North
America. Our small group reflection time
variety of opinions and experiences. As a
staff person, my job is to challenge their
was incredibly powerful and impactful.
perceptions and give them more questions (Shout out to Group 8!) It helped to focus
my experience and find tangible skills
than answers.
I have staffed eight Birthright Israel
I can take with me on my next trip. I
trips, so I wasn't completely sure what
believe the theories, skills and activities
else I could be taught. While I was skep-
I learned can be applied elsewhere in my
life.
tical, I was open. We went through an
Through my eight trips, I have gotten
exercise that looked at post-trip engage-
to know approximately 376 Israeli and
ment opportunities and how we can take
American participants. I have seen partici-
our itineraries and find places to relate
pants make a change and start working for
the Jewish community; I have seen people
become more active in the Jewish com-
munity as volunteers or as participants
in communal events, both on campus at
Hillel or post grad in the communities
where they move to.
I have seen, years later, participants
who have made a deeper commitment to
their Jewish selves, going back to Israel
for long-term programs or becoming
Birthright Israel staff themselves. I have
also seen a few Israelis who have come
here to work at summer camps or who
have started the Jewish Agency for Israel
process for shlichot (to be an emissary).
It is not easy to see the impact
Birthright has on a participant immedi-
ately following the trip. Sometimes I never
see the impact, but as a Birthright Israel
alumnae myself, I know the impact is
there. *
Audrey Bloomberg of Farmington Hills has worked
with Michigan campus Hillels at MSU and through
Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan (HCAM). She now
serves as the NEXTGen liason to Jewish Senior Life of
Metropolitan Detroit.
commentary
The Space Between Hearing And Caring
F
otter care. Two words, we as a com-
doors for out-of-state children participating in
munity hear in conversations —
JCC Maccabi Games. We open doors for the
maybe through news stories, maybe
homeless at local congregations. We are very
from others. But the questions remain: Do
philanthropic when called upon. And now
we as a community really understand what
more than ever, is the time to open doors to
foster care is and why we should care?
our homes and hearts for kids who are des-
The simple fact is that there are
perately in need of a childhood.
children in our own backyard hav-
A few years ago, I was that per-
ing to grow up too fast, not experi-
son in our community who had no
encing what a childhood truly is —
idea what foster care and adoption
all they know are neglect, trauma or
truly meant. People often talk about
abuse. These children are in need of
other choices to build a family, but
comfort, care and the opportunity
we rarely heard about these options.
to succeed. That is what foster care
After months of educating our-
is really about: believing in a child,
selves, talking to foster care agen-
regardless of stigma, stereotypes
cies, private adoption agencies and
Erika Jo nes
and past environments.
adoptive parents throughout Metro
Foster care is also part of tikkun
Detroit, we learned a lot.
olam. I have yet to find a better example of
From our personal experience, we learned
how best to repair of our world than offering that our Jewish community has the passion
more than hope, but help for a child in need. and means to help, but foster care and adop-
And that is what our community does best;
tion are not regular topics of conversation.
we reach out and help one another. We open
There is no "go-to" agency in our communi-
8 November 5.2015
ty as a resource to provide answers to ques-
tions and help navigate through the many
processes to start a family.
Also, I often find myself answering many
questions about children waiting to be
placed in a foster care or a forever home
through adoption. All questions are impor-
tant, as they raise awareness and shed light
on this topic. Some popular conversations
begin: "Aren't these kids traumatized?" "I
don't know if I can trust them in my fam-
ily." "I saw this movie on TV about a true
story with a foster kid, and it just does not
seem like a good fit for us:' While these are
legitimate concerns, the only real answer is
that each child and situation is different. Yes,
trauma happens — just being removed from
the only home you know for safety concerns
will have an effect on anyone, especially a
child. And know, there are resources to help
you navigate through this process.
November is National Adoption Month,
and now is a good time to remind everyone
of the need to help the more than 13,000
foster care children in Michigan. These boys
and girls don't care about your gender, skin
color or religion. What they care about is
a warm bed, food on the table and, most
importantly, someone they can trust, who
will always be around — could that person
or family be you?
If you have any questions or interests in
becoming a foster parent and/or adoptive
parent, there are many great agencies that
can help you. There are also many people
willing to share their own experiences,
including me.
As a Jewish mom to my beautiful (adop-
tive) daughter Sammie, foster parent and
staff member at Judson Center, I am confi-
dent that bridging the gap between what we
hear and what we do could change this word,
one child at a time. *
Erika Jones is personal philanthropy manager
at Royal Oak-based Judson Center.