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Mission Accomplished
MSU student staffer believes Metro Detroit teens
gain Israel advocacy skills — and more — on trip.
Bri Dines } jewish@edu writer
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Staffer Bri Dines, center in glasses, floats
the Jordan River with Teen Mission goers.
he Jewish community has had a very
strong impact on my life. Starting
with BBYO in eighth grade, the Jew-
ish community has fostered leadership skills
and confidence within me. When I moved to
East Lansing to begin college at Michigan
State University, I quickly found the Jewish
community through MSU Hillel to be my
“home away from home,” providing various
opportunities to continue to grow as a Jew-
ish leader.
I was scrolling through my emails in Oc-
tober when one caught my eye. Sam Appel,
who led my Birthright trip the previous year
and was an MSU Hillel staff member, posted
an application to staff the Federation of Met-
ropolitan Detroit’s Teen Mission. I had a love
for Israel, through my Birthright experience
and my internship with the David Project,
and I had been looking for ways to give back
to my Jewish community that has done so
much for me. So I eagerly applied. When I
received the call from Jackie Yashinsky that I
was selected to staff, I almost cried I was so
excited.
Looking back on the trip, there were so
many incredible memories and moments.
Whether it was the debate sparked about the
Kotel after Anat Hoffman spoke to the group
about the Women of the Wall, the tears in
the teens eyes as they listened to the Israeli
counselor reflect on her army experience at
Mount Herzl, or their willingness to step out
of their comfort zones and try something
new — I was constantly in awe of the Teen
T
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Mission participants. I was looking at this trip
as an opportunity to begin to give back, but I
truly gained so much as well.
I feel this trip is really important as it gives
teens the opportunity to explore Israel before
they enter college and are then surrounded
by people who may not view Israel in a posi-
tive light, something not very evident in “the
West Bloomfield bubble.”
As an Israel advocate on campus, I know
firsthand how easy it is for people to point
fingers at Israel. It gives me great comfort
knowing these teens had the opportunity to
spend a month in Israel and were provided a
foundation and knowledge to be advocates
for Israel as well.
Staffing the Teen Mission was one of the
most incredible and rewarding experiences I
have ever had. Alongside the other amazing
staff, tour guides and rabbis, I had the oppor-
tunity to interact with exceptional teens and
experience the beauty, excitement, controver-
sy and progress of Israel with them. The teens
continued to blow my mind throughout the
trip with their knowledge, questions and the
passionate views they carried as they toured
through Israel.
It was an absolute pleasure to staff the Teen
Mission, and I look forward to bringing back
the knowledge and memories to Michigan
State as I enter my senior year and continue to
be an Israel advocate on campus. @
Bri Dines of West Bloomfield is a senior at
Michigan State University.