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