for college students by college students

Israel Connections

MSU, HCAM students experience Detroit’s
partnership in Central Galilee .

Daniel Hamburg } jewish@edu writer

raveling to Israel is an experience unlike
any other. Originally from Maryland, I
arrived at Michigan State University as
a first-year student not knowing a single person.
Eager to connect with a welcoming community,
I joined Alpha Epsilon Pi, a Jewish fraternity, and
became involved with MSU Hillel by attending
Shabbat dinners and the occasional social event.
Through these two organizations, I found new
friends who felt like family.
Now in my senior year, I decided to spend my
winter break on the MSU Hillel and Hillel Campus
Alliance of Michigan Birthright Israel trip, along
with 39 of my peers. Birthright Israel provided
us with a once-in-a-lifetime experience where
we were able to connect with our Judaism and
explore our rich heritage over an intense and
enriching 10 days.
One of the more memorable days was visiting
Nazareth Illit. Since 1994, Metropolitan Detroit has
partnered with Nazareth Illit, a municipality locat-
ed in a region referred to as the Central Galilee.

T

One of some 45 Jewish Agency Partnership2Gether
pairings, the program was originally designed to
address needs in Israel.
Today, the Partnership strives to build significant
opportunity and sustain long-lasting relation-
ships through collaborative programs and shared
resources.
We spent the day meeting with Yoav Raban,
who works for Partnership2Gether and now lives
in the region. Raban took us to the top of Mount
Precipice and spoke of how Detroiters and Israelis
worked together to build and sustain the farms
located below. We visited pre-army Mechina, a
one-year academy high school graduates attend
to prepare for IDF army service. We learned about
Israel’s history and struggles and spent time
discussing Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS), a
global campaign targeting Israel that attempts to
increase economic and political pressure on Israel
to comply with the stated goals of the movement.
Growing up, I learned much about Israel and
always supported the state. While I understood

Spartans on top of Mount Precipice in Nazareth Illit:
freshman Seth Rosen, Bloomfield Hills; and seniors Gage
Klipper, Greenfield Park, N.Y.; Jacob Guenther, Des
Plaines Ill.; and Daniel Hamburg, North Potomac, Md.

Israel was the Jewish homeland, I never really
felt the connection until the day we visited the
Mechina. Israel is more than a country. It’s a home
for the Jewish people and a place where our roots
originate.
Anti-Semitism exists not just for Israelis, but
around the world and even on our college cam-
puses. The connection formed between the Metro
Detroit region and Nazareth Illit showed me the
value of partnerships and the instant connect
Jews feel from two separate sides of the world.
Even though I’m not originally from Michigan,
it was something special to step out into a traf-
fic roundabout and see the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit sign.

To be able to travel to Israel and view the
strong partnership between Metropolitan Detroit
and Nazareth Illit was a true privilege. Building
relationships and learning about different cultures
are even more meaningful when you have the
opportunity to travel abroad and immerse your-
self in the country and its people. The power of
Judaism connects us and empowers us to learn
and grow with each other, and I am so grateful for
the opportunity to have been a part of this experi-
ence. @

Daniel Hamburg is a senior at Michigan State University.
He is originally from North Potomac, Md.

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46 February 18 • 2016

