Junior Eden Weinstein-Sears and sophomores Ariana Ackerman, Eloosha Goott, and Julia Ziff set off on an five week exchange trip to Israel.
The Emery/Weiner School has partnered with the Leo Baeck School located in Haifa, Israel for many years and as a result of this partnership, students from each school have the opportunity to participate in an exchange program.
Now, with their three week mark approaching, they have all had time to truly experience Israel in a unique way.
Starting their trip off was obviously overwhelming at first; however, it brought exposure to a new culture and once in a lifetime connections. “I was super nervous that I would get home sick immediately and miss home,” says Weinstein-Sears. “And although I do, it has been amazing being surrounded by a completely different culture than the one I have in Texas,” she adds.
For Ziff, the language barrier was an initial fear, “I was scared my Hebrew would not be good enough,” she worried. “While I was shy with speaking at the beginning of the trip … I’ve gotten more comfortable and have ordered food, conversed with friends, and even asked for directions in Hebrew,” she remarks proudly.
In addition to the language, the current state of unrest in Israel was a contributing factor to uncertainty about the trip. Goott, while initially scared of the war, decided to participate in the exchange in order to explore his passion for Israel. “I feel that it is very important to be able to be accurate with information,” he says. Visiting Israel and experiencing the conflict firsthand helped “[him] realize what is actually going on and not what is spread through biased social media.”
Experiencing Israel and the current situation might come with fear, but it also furthers an unspoken connection to Judaism for Ziff. “I decided to participate in this program because I wanted to learn more about Israel and grow closer with my Judaism by visiting the land of my culture,” she reveals. The students were able to celebrate Israel Independence Day, or Yom Ha’atzmaut, in Israel, which was a highlight of the trip for Goott. Goott realized that “all ages came together to share their pride for Israel,” something crucial in this time of conflict and uncertainty.
For Ackerman, she believes “this experience taught [her] how important being a strong Jewish Zionist is … [and] helped [her] grow into a more independent person who has a love for Israel.”
While their trip has come with some difficulties and challenges, it has also allowed for new opportunities and experiences. Both Ackerman and Weinstein-Sears have enjoyed going to the beach almost daily, and, according to Ackerman, Israel has “some of the most beautiful beaches.”
With their trip coming to an end soon, Weinstein-Sears reflects on her experience: “If you come in anxious and distant, you will miss out on such an important opportunity that not everyone gets to have. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or try new things because nobody knows you here anyways. You can’t make friends if you never reach out, and you can’t have experiences if you don’t say ‘yes.’”
