By Adelle Gomelsky

Before I went on the Taglit-birthright israel trip this summer I was never really educated on why Israel was so important to Jews. I never went to Hebrew school and never really learned a lot of the historical stories that my fellow participants could recite by memory. However, being first generation Russian American, I have always been instilled with an appreciation and pride for where I come from, and what others have been through, so that I can stand strong as a proud Jewish woman.

From the moment we landed in Israel our itinerary was packed full of exciting hikes, sunset walks, city explorations, historical sites, cultural integration, superior night life, kibbutz lifestyle, curvy bus rides, Holocaust remembrance, desert landscapes, camel rides, pita making, more hummus to eat than you ever thought possible, and endless photo opportunities of breathtaking sites — all while building friendships that will last a lifetime!

It was a whirlwind for my senses to try to absorb the true history and power that stood all around me. One of my fondest memories is of the peaceful city of Tzfat, a place of Jewish mysticism and art. From the moment I stepped off the bus onto the cobblestones of the breathtakingly beautiful city, a wave of peaceful silence came over me. Meanwhile, men, women, and children went about their day working for the greater good of the community — learning from one another. Even now, I can remember the peaceful calm that the city brought me.

As for the Western Wall, I honestly expected to walk up to the wall, put my notes in, say a prayer, and be on my way. However, what ended up happening to me was far more unexpected; through the wall I felt history being played out. Suddenly, a montage of scenes flew through my mind uncontrollably: Abraham, Sarah, Moses, David, the families, the struggles, the wars, the community, the destruction, the rebuilding, the believers, the persecution, the faith, the pride, and the anger. Everything that the Jewish people have been through since the beginning of time, all rushed into me as if a part of my soul had been forever unlocked. I sat and cried for the Jewish people, my family, myself. With every tear I remembered the struggles, but most importantly I remembered the strength of a people and a land coming together that I will forever be connected to.

I know it sounds cliché, but the truth is that this trip changed my life. In the midst of the bus rides and historical sites, I found a love for the state of Israel and its people. Listening to stories about the pioneers who first dug into the land, the visionaries who made the desert bloom, and the communities that against all odds believed in something greater than themselves, I found something deep inside me I never knew existed. I now realize that the foundation of Israel is the foundation of the Jewish people. Strong in our convictions and faith we stand together proud as a community.

I am already eager to return home, to Israel.

More than 100,000 young adults from 40 countries have been to the Jewish homeland on a Taglit-birthright israel trip. For more information on the Federation’s next excursion, please contact Brian Fox at (323) 761-8341 or bfox@JewishLA.org.