10 | SEPTEMBER 9 • 2021 

PURELY COMMENTARY

guest column

A Special (and Much Needed) 
Summer Israel Experience
H

aving only been to 
Israel once in my 
life as a baby, I was 
thrilled to receive the oppor-
tunity to return 17 years later. 
The anticipation leading up 
to my summer 
CTeen trip was 
high, having 
joined numer-
ous Zoom 
sessions to learn 
more about 
Israel, its history 
and culture. 
I felt a strong sense of 
excitement, passion and com-
mitment to take on this new 
experience. Due to the scary 
situation going on in Israel 
weeks prior to my departure, 
I was worried the trip might 
get canceled, but thankfully it 
didn’t; nor did COVID really 
impact the trip. 
Even though this feeling 
of uncertainty was present, 
I knew deep inside that 
no matter what we as Jews 
encounter, we will continue 
to persevere and find ways to 
visit our homeland. Many say 
that when a Jew visits Israel 
for the first time they feel like 
they have finally come home. 
My dad told me this before I 
left, and he was so right. I felt 
this feeling numerous times 
throughout the trip. I felt it 
in different ways and learned 
new things about myself and 
my Jewish identity.
 A moment I will never 
forget from the Heritage Trip 
to Israel was Friday night as 
the sun was coming down. 
The Kotel was flooded with 
Jews from all backgrounds, 
all there for the same reason, 

which is that special moment 
to connect with God before 
Shabbat. We all took our 
moments to connect, some of 
us even using a bit of Israeli 
chutzpah to make our way 
to the Wall. Once my group 
finished praying, we decided 
to start singing. We formed a 
big circle and started singing 
songs that many people know 
no matter where they are 
from. It started with my group 
of 40 and quickly expanded 
to other teen groups joining, 
tourists and locals. The energy 
was high, and the smiles were 
wide; everyone was jumping, 
dancing and singing. The 
unity felt that night was amaz-
ing while being surrounded 
by so many other Jews. 
 Another very special and 
personal moment during my 
trip to Israel and reaching the 
Kotel was the phone call I got 
just before praying at the Wall. 
The call was from my mom, 
who let me know that finally 
she has been cured from a 
life-threatening illness. I car-
ried her tiny note to the Kotel, 
knowing she is probably pray-
ing for health and good news 
from her doctor. I wanted to 
pray for her successful recov-
ery. Her call was my magic 
moment, my blessing.
As our trip ended, I left 
with an extra amount of love 
for Israel, new friendships and 
the biggest smile on my face. 
Getting to see different areas 
and meeting Israelis opened 
a new door of feelings and 
joy knowing that we as Jews 
are all truly connected and 
have this beautiful homeland. 
And yes, there were moments 

during stories and visiting his-
toric sites where I was amazed 
or horrified by what had hap-
pened or is happening; but, in 
the end, we as a Jewish people 
continue to fight for our peo-
ple and land and show lots 
of love to Israel. The sense of 
unity is comforting.
 Lastly, I learned more 
things about myself and how 
to better my community 
back at home. Additionally, I 
learned leadership skills like 
when my group hiked Masada 
— some of the group couldn’t 
make it down but instead of 
being bummed out about 
having to wait, we made light 
of the situation and decided to 
play Israeli music and have a 
dance party to pass the time. 
Honestly, even on our bus 
ride we still made a blast out 
of it. No moment was a bor-
ing moment. 
I could tell anyone who is 
considering a summer teen 
trip to Israel: You’ll meet new 
friends for a lifetime; you will 
learn more about yourself and 
your Judaism; and you’ll have 
the best summer, leaving you 
with endless memories that 
you’ll want to share back at 
home. RootOne and CTeen 
made it possible because with-
out their support I might not 
have been able to go. Eternally 
grateful. 

 

Inez Mundrian is a high school 

senior in Ann Arbor who traveled to 

Israel this summer with CTeen, one 

of 20 providers of RootOne trips to 

Israel. RootOne provides subsidies to 

make the trips more accessible and 

includes pre- and post-trip learning 

and community engagement experi-

ences for teens.

Inez 
Mundrian

Historic Cemetery 
Open on Sept. 12

B’nai David Cemetery, 9535 Van 
Dyke Ave. in Detroit, will be open 
for visitors Sunday, Sept. 12, from 
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Visitors are welcome to stop on 
Marjorie Street (at the southern 
border of the cemetery) to see the 
urban garden David Goldman has 
built on nine lots.
Goldman purchased the lots 
from the Detroit Land Bank 
Authority to help clean blight and 
give back to the neighborhood 
that B’nai David cemetery has 
been a part of since 1898.
“
As always, I thank those who 
have donated to B’nai David 
Cemetery in the past,
” Goldman 
said. “We are working diligently 
toward a sustainable model that 
provides grounds-care in perpe-
tuity.
”
Expenses run about $7,000 a 
year for grass cutting. This does 
not include the repair of fallen 
headstones, fencing and asphalt 
patching, etc. Donations are wel-
come and needed. Please consider 
giving. Tax deductible donations 
can be sent to: Friends of B’nai 
David, 4540 Cherokee Lane, 
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 

The nearby 
urban garden

B’nai David 
Cemetery

