I can barely fathom the fact that I had the opportunity to travel across the world with close friends and new friends to the holiest place in the world. Israel should have seemed foreign to me, but it quickly became a place of comfort because of all the rich history and culture I could easily relate to from years of Judaic studies. Our Birthright experiences ranged from discussions about the power of relationships in the Mikvah in Zfat, to camping under the stars in the Bedouin tents, to singing “Bo-bo-bo-boker Tov” every morning in the bus. Spending Shabbat in Jerusalem was one of the most meaningful parts of the trip. It was so powerful to visit the Kotel, slip personal notes into the wall and participate in the Israeli dances with fellow Jewish women from all over the world. Celebrating the B’not Mitzvah, performed by Rabbi Zev, Director of the Chabad student center at UT Austin, in front of the Kotel for the two girls in our group was such a special moment as well. The Birthright trip could not have happened without the generosity of each donor and the dedication of each staff member. Also, the soldiers were such a big asset to our group because they gave us a taste of their life in Israel, and we began to realize that they were strong and mature in most ways but just like us in other ways. I would go back to Israel in a heartbeat. Mayanot 504 became such a tight knit group and the bonds we made are irreplaceable, and I will continue to cherish each one of them. I look forward to the day we all go back to Israel together. I cant express how thankful I am for Birthright, and how it helped bring me back to my Jewish roots and remind me why I am so proud to be a Jewish woman.
--Hailey Hoppenstein