18 | JULY 13 • 2023
way they can build a future
of peace and harmony in our
world is by using the strength
of differences for building
blocks. Dubai is an example
of how the past and the future
cannot just coexist, but actual-
ly enhance each other.
The last night of our trip,
we traveled to Abu Dhabi for
a sunset banquet reflecting on
our experience. These mean-
ingful moments were powerful,
as I finally had the opportu-
nity to take in everything and
everyone around me. I was not
expecting to have formed so
many deep connections with
the other students and staff,
especially coming from such an
array of backgrounds.
I feel lucky to have been a
part of this group. Sitting in a
circle for one last conversation,
one of the rabbis pointed out
how easy it is to leave a trip
like this feeling inspired, but
that the real challenge is keep-
ing that spark alive. I realized
the inspiration did not come
from a Torah lesson like we
had in our JewishU classes.
And, though it was astound-
ing, it wasn’t the stunning
environment that lit this spark.
It was the realization that we
were active participants in his-
tory occurring before our eyes.
Each individual was collective-
ly doing something never done
before. Indescribable — the
feeling of openly displaying
our proud Jewish identities in
a previously designated unlike-
ly region of the world.
MSU students with
Rabbi Mendel Duchman
at Mini Miracle
Educational Campus
Riley Cook
and Jared
Pazner
Talia Fuld, Alex Mison
and Alexa Frank
At the Museum for the Future
continued from page 17