My Birthright Experience

By Gabriel Krause

My name is Gabriel Krause and I am an incoming junior at Miami of Ohio. I decided to go on Birthright Israel when my brother and friends told me upon their return that it was the trip of a lifetime. I had no idea what it was going to be like but it is the end of day 6 and everything has exceeded my expectations.

The Western Wall for example was one of the most surreal sights and adventures I've ever gone on. We began by splitting up our group of 47 into two groups- one side consisted of those who had been to the wall and the other half were those who have never seen it. Those who hadn't seen it were blind folded and led by those who had seen it. This allowed for everyone to take in the surrounding noises and to completely focus on themselves and what the Western Wall means to them.

As we reached the end of the blind walk, the Wall was in full view and it was amazing. Opening our eyes to that site was truly an incredible experience. Finally, it was time to go down and see the real thing.

We were given slips of paper to write a note of our choosing. Everyone's note was unique in its own way and that was the beauty of it. The privacy and power of the note was what made the adventure so meaningful. For me, it gave me a chance to think and reflect on my family, friends, and loved ones. Also, it was the best chance I'd had so far to reflect on myself, what this trip has taught me, and what I hope for in the future.

Overall, my experience at the Western Wall was much more powerful than I had anticipated and I wouldn't change a second of it. I keep catching myself reminiscing on the moment I put my note in the wall and I think the rest of the group would agree with me on how strong that moment was. It truly gave me the opportunity to take a step back and realize how fortunate I am to be in Israel with a group of former strangers and current friends for life. This trip to Israel has been life changing and one of the most enlightening experiences I've encountered. I cannot wait to come back and conquer new adventures.

Tags:

Kotel

Jerusalem

Western Wall

Prayer

Reflection

Bus 122

Winter 2017/2018

Bus 10

Bus 11

Bus 114

Bus 115

Bus 116

Bus 12

Bus 13

Bus 183

Bus 184

Bus 185

Bus 186

Bus 21

Bus 246

Bus 262

Bus 263

Bus 264

Bus 273

Bus 274

Bus 277

Bus 294

Bus 296

Bus 306

Bus 307

Bus 309

Bus 315

Bus 316

Bus 317

Bus 4

Bus 413

Bus 414

Bus 487

Bus 5

Bus 53

Bus 54

Bus 55

Bus 56

Bus 57

Bus 6

Summer 2018

Bus 10

Bus 1035

Bus 104

Bus 1068

Bus 1072

Bus 1076

Bus 116

Bus 117

Bus 118

Bus 12

Bus 13

Bus 14

Bus 15

Bus 16

Bus 173

Bus 174

Bus 175

Bus 176

Bus 177

Bus 178

Bus 179

Bus 18

BUS 180

Bus 19

Bus 20

Bus 239

Bus 240

Bus 241

Bus 242

Bus 243

Bus 244

Bus 27

Bus 282

Bus 283

Bus 284

Bus 3

Bus 325

Bus 350

Bus 366

Bus 367

Bus 4

Bus 495

Bus 496

Bus 514

Bus 515

Bus 521

Bus 524

Bus 525

Bus 526

Bus 536

Bus 541

Bus 567

Bus 587

Bus 59

Bus 596

Bus 608

Bus 650

Bus 688

Bus 694

Bus 777

Bus 923

Bus 924

Bus 933

Bus 946

Summer 2017

Bus 100

Bus 101

Bus 103

Bus 104

Bus 105

Bus 106

Bus 107

Bus 108

Bus 109

Bus 110

Bus 111

Bus 113

Bus 115

Bus 116

Bus 117

Bus 118

Bus 119

Bus 120

Bus 123

Bus 124

Bus 125

Bus 126

Bus 127

Bus 128

Bus 129

Bus 130

Bus 131

Bus 133

Bus 134

Bus 135

Bus 136

Bus 137

Bus 138

Bus 428

Bus 429

Bus 430

Bus 431

Bus 445

Bus 471

Bus 481

Bus 497

Bus 526

Bus 553

Bus 555

Bus 678

Bus 802

Bus 892

Bus 915

Bus 935

Bus 98

Bus 99

Winter 2018/2019

Bus 112

Bus 113

Bus 13

Bus 138

Bus 16

Bus 17

Bus 174

Bus 176

Bus 181

Bus 184

Bus 186

Bus 19

Bus 191

Bus 20

Bus 201

Bus 202

Bus 203

Bus 216

Bus 221

Bus 222

Bus 223

Bus 224

Bus 225

Bus 256

Bus 272

Bus 273

Bus 287

Bus 288

Bus 292

Bus 308

Bus 311

Bus 312

Bus 316

Bus 318

Bus 319

Bus 358

Bus 360

Bus 369

Bus 55

Bus 70

Bus 72

Summer 2016

Bus 121

Bus 122

Bus 123

Bus 124

Bus 126

Bus 169

Bus 181

Bus 20

Bus 221

Bus 272

Bus 273

Bus 274

Bus 275

Bus 337

Bus 352

Bus 353

Bus 356

Bus 357

Bus 358

Bus 359

Bus 360

Bus 361

Bus 457

Bus 460

Bus 461

Bus 463

Bus 48

Bus 488

Bus 5

Bus 50

Bus 504

Bus 506

Bus 51

Bus 52

Bus 525

Bus 538

Bus 551

Bus 552

Bus 603

Bus 810

Bus 817

Bus 818

Bus 838

Bus 854

Bus 9

Bus 911

Bus 928

Winter 2016/17

BUS 13

Bus 16

Bus 18

Bus 19

BUS 20

Bus 21

Bus 22

BUS 24

Bus 25

Bus 26

Bus 297

Bus 298

Bus 299

Bus 300

BUS 301

BUS 302

Bus 303

BUS 304

Bus 34

Bus 37

BUS 391

Bus 40

Bus 422

Bus 423

Bus 43

BUS 44

BUS 448

BUS 449

Bus 450

BUS 451

Bus 636

Winter 2015/16

Bus 109

Bus 110

Bus 13

Bus 158

Bus 16

Bus 161

Bus 165

Bus 166

Bus 17

Bus 217

Bus 218

Bus 219

Bus 220

Bus 221

Bus 222

Bus 223

Bus 409

Bus 447

Bus 46

Bus 47

Bus 48

Bus 49

Bus 77

Bus 78

Summer 2015

Bus 506

Bus 508

Bus 510

Bus 512

Bus 513

Bus 514

Bus 517

Bus 519

Bus 522

Bus 525

Bus 527

Bus 528

Bus 529

Bus 530

Bus 531

Bus 533

Bus 535

Bus 536

Bus 539

Bus 542

Bus 545

Bus 548

Bus 551

Bus 554

Bus 557

Bus 560

Bus 562

Bus 564

Bus 568

Bus 570

Bus 572

Bus 683

Bus 797

Bus 873

Bus 874

Bus 898

Bus 899

Bus 909

Bus 913

Bus 915

My Birthright Experience

Search form

Winter 2017/2018

Summer 2018

Summer 2017

Winter 2018/2019

Summer 2016

Winter 2016/17

Winter 2015/16

Summer 2015