Who’s Afraid of Birthright?
Re: “Selling Out My Birthright” (November/December 2003)
I recently came across your article about Birthright in New Voices and I agree with it a great deal. When I was on a Birthright trip in Israel in June of 2002, I often got the feeling that Israel was being sold to us. But the same can be said for much of the propaganda I have heard from pro-Israel advocates stateside. The students at my college Hillel were more dogmatic and fundamentalist in their approach to Israel than the actual Israelis I met.\t
Two weeks ago, I saw an infomercial on television produced by a pro-Israel organization that stressed Israel’s generous treatment of the Palestinians despite the opposition’s terrorist attacks. The infomercial made no mention of debacles such as Jenin, where everything went to shit.
I feel that many Americans are afraid to disagree with Birthright’s political platform. Our Birthright guide and other Israelis were more agnostic in approach, and were actually willing to admit Israel’s faults.
I just want to say that I am glad somebody finally wrote about Birthright’s flaws. I had a wonderful time in Israel, but some people, especially in this country, need to question their own dogma.
Very respectfully,
Second Lieutenant David Jenning
Future Operations Officer
2nd Force Service Support Group
United States Marine Corps
(2ndLt. Jenning Graduated Muhlenberg College in 2002)
Open Mind of Birthright
Re: “Selling Out My Birthright” (November/December 2003)
I understand we are each entitled to our opinions, and I don’t intend to insult anyone with this comment. I simply wish to say that I have just returned from a Birthright trip, and that my experience was not nearly as negative as was the one presented by the author of “Selling Out My Birthright”. The group with which I traveled , Kesher, presented a very open-minded view of many of the issues facing Israel today.
Kesher constantly reminded us to keep an open mind. We had the chance to hear an Arab-Israeli speaker discuss her own experience and opinions about the discrimination Arabs face in Israel and the idea of forming a Palestinian state. Kesher told us that one of the big problems facing Jews in Israel today is divisiveness within Judaism—problems between the very Orthodox and the very secular. They admitted that there was no simple solution to any of these conflicts, but emphasized hearing out both sides.
Admittedly we were not allowed into the Arab Quarter of the Old City; we did not go to nightclubs; we did not ride public busses; and we were kept together almost all the time. However, I doubt that many parents (most of whom are already worried about their children’s safety) would have allowed their children to go on this trip if it weren’t for these security measures.
Our group did meet a group of six Israeli soldiers, but they were not there to preach at us. They were kids our age and a little older, and, for me at least, it was just a wonderful opportunity to get to know Israelis and talk about our own cultures and experiences.
This trip changed my life, bringing me closer to my spirituality, and though there was no proselytizing, I found myself gaining a deeper connection with the Israeli people and land. Though I would still not call myself a Zionist, I do feel that I have a deeper understanding of the problems facing the Jewish people and a stronger commitment to Israel.
Hillary Klofkorn
Truman University
Birhtright Thank You
Re: “Selling Out My Birthright” (November/December 2003)
I am writing to counter the opinion put forward by Alex Halperin. I recently returned from the Birthright Israel – Kesher Connection trip, and it was a fantastic experience. I am sorry that Alex did not enjoy his trip with Oranim.
When one goes on Birthright, one accepts certain conditions. Of course a group trip is going to be different than going to Israel alone or with family, but this has far more advantages than disadvantages. I would say that going with a group of young adults my own age and sharing the experience of being in Israel for the first time was worth avoiding some of the more dangerous areas; everyone in my group understood the necessity of protection, because if anything ever happened to Birthright participants, it would probably endanger the continuation of the program.
While we did, of course, hear much more of the “Jewish side” of the story and stay out of the Arab Quarter, we were able to hear an Arab-Israeli speaker give her side and answer our questions. In addition, I feel that our guides gave a very fair version of the history of Israel throughout our trip. And yes, we were sleep-deprived, but isn’t that worth it? How else are you going to climb Masada and swim in the Dead Sea all in one day?
It’s true – the experience was not perfect. But I can confidently say that everyone in my group had a good experience, and for many of us, this was just the beginning. Now that we have seen Israel, we are eager to go back; to work on kibbutzim, to attend Hebrew Union College or Hebrew University; to live there; or just to visit again.
And I believe that this, more than “propaganda,” was the purpose of the trip: to show Jewish young adults their homeland and let them decide what to do and where to go from there. Yes, the Mega-Event did have a propaganda-like feel, but that was maybe three or four hours out of ten days, and I think if they’re going to bring you to Israel for free, you can put up with their show with a good attitude.
What it comes down to is that almost all of us got to go to Israel because of someone else’s incredible generosity, and we should be grateful for the chance. So I say: thank you, Birthright Israel.
Jenny Arch
Birhtright – A Different Story
Re: “Selling Out My Birthright” (November/December 2003)
I just finished reading the article “Selling Out My Birthright” and thought it was the biggest load of crap I ever encountered. I just returned from a birthright Israel trip with Kesher and had an amazing experience. We weren’t bombarded with propaganda, and we were given the opportunity to truly experience Israel and learn about its history. We even got to meet with an Arab-Israeli citizen. We walked through history; we learned about our people, and about the land. We truly bonded with Israelis. I can’t wait to go back.
You ask almost every other birthright participant what it was like and you will get a very different story than the one you printed. I’m very sorry that one particular person didn’t enjoy their experience, but I don’t think you should send out such a negative message without even looking to see if people really felt that way.
Melissa Ras
S.U.N.Y.
Value Added
Re: “Walleye” (September/October 2003)
Hasdai Westbrook’s recent editorial raises important points in the ongoing debate about intermarriage and the future of American Jewry. However, I do not think he realizes what our elders are afraid of losing. Intermarriage is not cause for concern because we are on the verge of losing Jewish culture, as Westbrook implies. Rather, the concern is that we will lose Jewish values.
A casual observer might assume that Jewish values are virtually identical to the core values of any other religion-respect for one’s fellow men and worship of God for instance. But Judaism’s teachings on other subjects are unique. The emphasis on action over faith is an example. This is a difference that I do not think Westbrook appreciates.
Intermarriage may not sacrifice the cultural aspects of Judaism, but this means that children of intermarriage might think celebrating Hannukah is all there i
s to being Jewish. Being Jewish is much more than celebrating holidays. It is preserving certain values. When we tell our parents we’re dating a non-Jew, they’re not concerned about their grandchildren not celebrating Shabbat and keeping kosher so much as they fear their great-grandchildren not knowing what it means to be a Jew.
In my experience, any marriage of two parents from different faiths sacrifices something from each religion, no matter how loving. Either you believe strongly enough to commit to a person who shares that belief, or you sacrifice your convictions to be with someone else. I for one am not willing to sacrifice the values I believe in, even for someone I love. Those who worry about the intermarriage rate are right to be concerned. If Westbrook’s perception represents that of the majority of young Jews in America, then the battle our elders are fighting for the future of American Jewry might already be lost.
David Axel
Rice University
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