Shabbat in Jerusalem Reflections
Prior to coming on Birthright Israel with Shorashim, I was apprehensive about engaging with and deepening my Jewish identity. Living in an environment where Judaism is often classified by stereotypes, in the past, I had found it much easier to ignore this part of my identity than consider what my own Judaism meant for me.
For that reason, I was hesitant to even sign up for a Birthright trip. In fact, as I filled out the Shorashim application on the left side of my computer screen, my pro con list about travelingt to Israel with Birthright was on the right side. Clearly, the pros outweighed the cons for me in the end. Waiting in the Chicago airport with this on my mind, I had done some goal setting around the trip and my own expectations.
While in theory this goal setting was great, I found that when I got here, I quickly lost sight of those goals. In the midst of battling tough and tiring hikes, visiting chaotic and invigorating market places, and experiencing new segments of Israeli life from destination to destination, I found that I was forgetting the incredible opportunity that was given to me.
On Friday, we spent our evening celebrating Shabbat at the Kotel (Western Wall). Before the festivities began, we had the chance to visit the wall and pray. Around me, I saw people of all different races talking to the wall. I came to realize in that moment that prayer transcends religious boundaries and whatever my definition of my Judaism was, that was okay.
As we joined both Americans and Israelis alike at the wall for singing and dancing to welcome Shabbat, I felt a sense of comfort both within myself and within the group. Taking the time to put my phone away and stop viewing Israel behind my camera lens, I was able to be more present in the space and take in all the sites and sounds around me. As I shared in these Shabbat traditions with friends and strangers, I found myself slowly become more and more prideful of my Judaism.
Everyone had talked about having their "moment" on Birthright, but for me, it wasn't just a moment. It is instead a constant reframing of my mindset to remember that why I'm here doesn't have to match anyone's expectations or even my own expectations; and even though at times I feel "Jew-ish," I'll always be able to remember what I was a part of here and I will always be able to remember that pride in my own definition of Judaism.
