Final Blog
August 8, 2013
Written by: Corey Gold
As I write this, the Baltimore Diller Teen Fellows family is sitting together on a Boeing 777, cruising at a speed of 507 mph 36,000 feet over the North American continent. At this very moment, we are 746 miles from touching down at the Newark airport after spending 21 days on the other side of the globe. Some of us are reluctantly beginning our summer reading, while others are enjoying the movie 42 for the first time. Some are drugging themselves to sleep, while others are draped over each other, trying to digest their experiences from over the past three weeks. As we prepare to touch down in approximately 1 hour and 36 minutes, all of us have mixed feelings about leaving the land and people we have come to love.
The past three weeks, packed with unique programs and unforgettable moments, left distinct impressions on each of us as individuals and enabled the cohort to grow closer together than we ever thought possible. By no means was this experience easy-the three weeks were scattered with difficult moments of sorrow and anxiety for everyone. However, that's what makes the Diller program so unique. Only the challenges and obstacles you face have a significant impact on your character. You're only forced to change during moments of discomfort. And in this way, the Diller program distinguishes itself from a standard Israel teen tour. It's the beginning of another chapter of one's life journey.
We went from touring Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and the Negev, to spending a week exploring and volunteering in Ashkelon with our Israeli matches. Then, we met other Diller teens from around North America at Kennes and joined the international Diller community in Congress. Finally, we toured the last few days in northern Israel with our Israeli friends. Ashkemore was united for a final time.
And then, in fits of tears, we were torn from our Israeli friends. Some of us were fortunate enough to know the date of our next trip to Israel, but others had to say goodbye. We were embraced by new families from thousands of miles overseas, only to leave without any promise of ever seeing them again. They had become practically siblings to many of us, yet we were forced to abruptly leave them after spending the better part of two weeks together.
When it's put that way, it's a really sobering thought. But when you step back and recognize the incredible friendships we've formed, there's no doubt that we will make it back to Israel sometime in our lives. Whether on a trip, or by serving in the IDF, or making Aliyah, we've formed incredible connections with the land, grappled with our Jewish identity, and began to question our futures as Jewish leaders.
As the plane's engines roared and we began our ascent, our three week journey had come to a conclusion. Flying home on El Al is now a familiar experience. We expected the Israeli food on our airplane meal platters, and instinctively greeted our flight attendants in Hebrew. On this journey, we've encountered all different kinds of Jews: people of all ages, representing various religious movements, hailing from different nations. But all of us shared our connection to the Jewish nation--our peoplehood.
The Israel Summer Seminar may have come to a bittersweet end, but the experience will not be forgotten. And the family we've formed within the Baltimore Diller cohort will not fade.
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