Gabriel Berstein
May 19, 2007 - 2 Sivan 5767

               Hi everyone, I chose Israel as my topic thinking that I would have a lot to say about the Jewish State. But the truth is that I don’t and I realized this when I sat down and tried writing a speech on my computer. I must have been sitting there for three hours just looking at my Word document and all I had written was, “ Israel is important to me because…” But then I thought to myself, why is Israel important to me? What makes it so important?

         For starters I can look into my American passport and see that I was born in Israel , but I left when I was 1 ½ years old. My family moved to California and since then I have never been back. Jewish people have a spiritual connection to Israel , but in my case there is this added physical connection of being born there... It is remarkable how you can have a connection with a place that you don’t remember. Now… let me clarify that I definitely feel a stronger connection to the United States since here is where I grew up, but a part of me longs to identify and find myself within Israel .

         I look at my heritage and notice some very interesting things. My parents are from Argentina and even further it goes back to Eastern Europe . So I started asking myself who I am here? A mix of European, South American, and Middle Eastern, trying to figure out who I am at this stage in my life. In my house we speak Spanish, Hebrew, and English. Though I don’t understand Hebrew. I go to school and over 50% of my classmates are Asian. With all this diversity around me it is hard to find my foothold.

         I belong to many different Jewish organizations so I don’t lose the small connection I currently have. It is comforting to be able to talk and socialize with Jewish peers of my age. We talk about almost everything. The key is to be involved and not lose the culture that I am part of. Many people in the congregation talk about Israel , and I feel left out because they seem to feel a spiritual bond with Israel as there homeland and to me its just the place i was born.

         It seems as if everyone around me feels the spiritual connection to Israel and I am missing it. People feel a sense of “one-ness” with this country. I want that connection and sometimes I trick myself into thinking that I have it, but I don’t. I hear people giving speeches about Israel and the audience just being moved. Yet I always feel left out. Probably one of the reasons why I feel disconnected from Israel is because I never had a formal Jewish education. I don’t know enough about Israel , or even Jewish history.

         Today I have my confirmation and this journey began when 1 1/2 years ago my mother decided I was going to go to the synagogue, and take classes on Judaism. I would have to establish myself in a new place and I felt reluctant at first. She made it clear to me that if I didn’t like it after the first couple of times… I would not have to go anymore. I accepted her offer and decided that going once or twice wouldn’t hurt and truthfully I would have nothing to loose. I was frightened that I might not be accepted but to my surprise the people here at Beth Am accepted me with open arms. From that   day on not only did I take classes I also I started to work as a “madrich”. A helper in the Sunday school. During my time as a “madrich”, while the kids are learning, I am learning too. I’m developing a better understanding of Jewish history and Israel as well. 

         This summer I hope to be going to Israel . Israel is important because there is a sense of security for the Jewish people. After thousands of years of wandering in different countries, finally the Jewish people can rebuild our self as a nation like we were before.         I’m going to Israel for very important reasons. One; because I was born there. I want to see where I was born and where I lived as a baby. Two; I also want to meet my godfather. I never met him, but he lives in Israel . But the biggest reason I am going is to hopefully find that spiritual connection that most people seem to have. I hope to achieve this connection but it is clear for me that maybe it might not be easy. I’m still scared, they speak a different language, and they have a different culture. I feel as if in Israel they are much more Jewish than I am. I remember that many people say that all Jews are one. But we’re all different, Israel will be different, it may be better than what I expect but then again I’m scared of a disappointment. 

            But I still love Israel and I want to go there. I want to be back in the only Jewish country in the world. I want to bring back great memories about Israel and I never want to forget them.