Eliza Herman visiting the Kotel during her BBYO Passport Israel trip
Eliza Herman, daughter of Jenny and Larry Herman is a junior at St. Mary’s Episcopal School. Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund provided her with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of her BBYO Passport Israel trip last summer. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Applications for Summer 2023 are now available online. To learn more and apply, click here.
This past summer was one that I will never forget because of my amazing trip to Israel. This was my first time going to Israel, and it was incredible to see how much my connection to the country and my faith grew throughout the three weeks I was there.
The decision to go on this trip was one of the hardest ones I have ever made because I would only know one other person. From going to the shuks (markets), hiking Masada at five in the morning, and especially hanging out with new friends, I can confidently say that I have made memories on this trip that I will never forget.
The trip started in Jerusalem with a tour of the Old City where we walked from the Jaffa Gate to the Zion Gate. This path included walking through an aqueduct underneath the city. We ended the day by going to the 2022 Maccabiah opening ceremonies. At this event, we met up with all of the other BBYO Israel trips where we got to watch the procession of all the countries and ended the night with a concert.
Another day that stands out to me was our day in Tsfat. This day consisted of a tour of the city followed by a discussion with a Kabbalistic artist that lives in the city. This talk stuck with me because it was so interesting to learn about a new side and way of Judaism that I did not know about previously. The artist talked about his life and how he grew up in America and then decided to follow his spirituality and move to Israel. He also spoke about how he uses his art to express some of the teachings of the Kabbalah. After this, we explored the city for ourselves and walked around the market. The day ended with rafting and pizza on the Jordan River.
Before I went on the trip, I knew I was going to love hiking Masada, and I can say that the experience exceeded my expectations. Our desert adventure started with riding camels at sunset which was so much fun. That night, we learned about the Bedouin culture while staying in tents. The next day started early with a 4:30 am wake-up so we could see the sunrise from the top of Masada. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the early wakeup and hike were well worth the view at the top. One of the most impactful moments on the trip was when the group sat in a circle and watched the sunrise at the top while saying a prayer for how we were all grateful to be at that place and in that moment together.
These were only a few of the many experiences that not only made me feel connected to Israel but also with Judaism as a whole. I feel like I have a home in Israel and made many friends from all over the country. Thank you to the Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky’s Endowment Fund for helping make this journey possible for me.