KULTURE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2005 8A
In the forefront is the Western Wall, the holiest site in Jewish tradition, which is the last remaining wall of David's temple. The gold dome in the background is the Islamic Temple.
F
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
or most college students, winter break is a time to escape from information knowledge and the general idea of learning anything at all. Students spend time catching up with high school friends, making extra cash for the bars and watching an
Contributed photo
obscene amount of television.
Through the Birthrigh Israel organization, thousands of young Jewish adults travel to Israel every year. From the Dead Sea to Masada, students learn about their past, and their culture.
For a few KU students, the winter break was more than relaxation; it was a discovery of their history and their religion. Founded on the ideal that every Jewish person should have the opportunity to travel to Israel, Birthright Israel has sent nearly 78,000 young adults to date. The Birthright trip allows Jewish young adults to travel to Israel for the price of a plane ticket to New York.
But, several KU students opted to absorb more information about their history, religion and culture. This winter break, several KU students elected to explore their religious ties abroad on the Birthright Israel trip.
This year the University of Kansas sent 28 students on the Birthright trip. About 90 students attended informational meetings about the trip, and about 40 applied.
"I got to see living history and experience where my thoughts and beliefs actually came from."
On the University of Kansas campus there are about 1,800 Jewish students, 200 of which are considered active in Hillel, a Jewish organization that promotes Jewish life on college campuses.
Jewish students from across the nation take the journey to explore their roots in Jerusalem
The organization provides religious services, Shabbat dinners and social activities for Jewish students a n d
Heading for the homeland
more than 80 students total. Jay Lewis, KU Hillel director, said that the trip was a great opportunity and that stud e n t s
should take advantage of it.
Hillel sent a record number of students on
t h e
Rebecca Goldberg Dallas sophomore
By Susan Schwarz Kansan Correspondent
Birthright trip this year.
Lewis said some of the highlights of the trip were that it was free and that it hit the high points of Israel in ten days.
Private Jewish donors fund each birthright trip, which averages about $2,000 per person. Lewis said that funding Birthright demonstrates the commitment of the Jewish community to individuals and to Israel.
level," David Smason, New Orleans freshman,
"Birthright
pro-
vided
me with the
experience to
to Israel and connect with
religion on a much deeper
The trip allows Jewish students to become closer to their culture. From touring historical and religious sites such as the Western Wall to tasting the Israeli food, these students immersed themselves in their history.
"I got to see living history
created this program to diminish the growing division between Israel and Jewish communities
a n d
experience where my thoughts and beliefs actually came from," Rebecca Goldberg, Dallas sophomore, said.
Learn more about KU Hillel
Winter break was more than a vacation for these 28 KU students.
According to its Web site, Birthright allows young Jewish adults to connect to their past in hopes that Israel will become a part of their future.
What KU Hillel Foundation offers spiritual guidance, social programming, leadership opportunities, community service, campus involvement and more. The Hillel foundation is present on many college campuses across the country.
faculty.
The KU Hillel has been sending students on the Birthright trip for the past six years, sending
▼ PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
It was an adventure and a chance to learn something outside of the classroom. Each came back with a new perspective, a little more knowledge and some breathtaking pictures.
Some activities: Every Friday night at 6 Hillel plays host to a Shabbat service in either the Kansas Union or Burge Union; see Web site for details. Every Thursday is Cafe Hillel from 6-9 p.m. at the Hillel House, 940 Mississippi St.
Birthright Israel's founders
Contact: Executive Director Jay Lewis, jlewis@kuhillel.org (785) 749-5397 Web site: http://www.ku.edu/~hillel/
Edited by Kendall Dix
Skeptics would question the validity of my emotions and even my connection to this foreign land. They would disregard my feelings for the people that have allowed me to stand where I am today. But, every person has a connection like mine. We each have a history, a culture and a people to which we belong. Like other KU students, I was lucky enough to sample the past that is my future. Now, it's your turn; find your roots. It takes an understanding of your past to appreciate where you are today, and where you could be tomorrow.
—Edited by Kendall Dix
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SUSAN SCHWARZ correspondent
The 10-day Birthright Israel trip gave me a quick overview of my homeland. I was rushed from hiking in the Negev Desert to praying at the Western Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish tradition. Wandering through Israel, the Birthright trip allowed me to form a tangible connection to a land that I already knew well. The trip gave me an over-wheeling sense of emotion, from fear to love; my body and mind were in overload. I stood at the foot of Masada, where my ancestors selflessly fought thousands of years before. As I listened to my tourguide explain story after story, I found that I was becoming a part of the history. By traveling to Israel, I left my mark on the continuous story of my people.
After making my father's wallet about $250 lighter, I found myself in the possession of a round trip ticket from Memphis, Tenn., to New York to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and the opportunity of a lifetime. Like other KU students on the Birthright Israel trip, I boarded a 12-hour flight on El Al Airlines to discover about Israel what I had only read about in textbooks. As the plane landed and my ears popped, I found myself in a foreign land with a familiar connection.
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