Page 12 - Jewish News_March-2020

12A March 2020 FEDERATION NEWS

A once-in-a-lifetime role

with Birthright

By Sydney Harlow, Gulf Coast Hillel Program Director

he Hillel International Birth- jeep, off-roading in the north four times
right trip is an experience un- because all of my buses were having
Tlike any other. By connecting to that experience! Other memorable
the land of Israel, its people, our fellow times included being present when
N
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COMMUNITY CELEBRATION foods, it is really a once-in-a-lifetime were meaningful to them, celebrating
trip. Amidst the amazements of this B’nei Mitzvot, and dealing with par-
trip, there is one staff role that gets ticipants getting sick and missing the

Celebrating little recognition, the Rakaz, who over- day’s activities.
sees the staff on multiple buses running
My favorite moment on a Hil-

lel Birthright trip is the Shehecheyanu

Your Legacy ceremony when our participants first
come to Jerusalem. On this trip, how-
ever, all of my buses had already been
up north, down south to Tel Aviv, and
were ending their trip in Jerusalem, so
RSVP at JFEDSRQ.org/Events it was even more meaningful. I was
able to lead the Shehecheyanu on the
Thursday, April 2, 6:00 pm Mount Scopus campus of Hebrew Uni-
at Michael’s On East versity at the overlook of the city. This
with ceremony is a time for us to come to-
gether, say the prayer and let it soak in
Keynote Speaker that we are finally in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Daniel Cohen It is not often that the Rakaz gets to
have many purposeful moments with
Rabbi Cohen shares his unique blend of Sydney Harlow at the Sea of Galilee participants and staff. For me, I truly

wisdom and spiritual insight. He is the similar itineraries and to help if and enjoyed being able to take some of
author of What Will They Say About You when there is an issue. the pressure off the staff and still work

When You Are Gone? Creating a Life of After seven trips to Israel, includ- with the students. For example, a bus
Legacy, and Senior Rabbi of Congrega- ing three times when I was a regular will make a stop at the Western Wall,
tion Agudath Sholom in New England.
Birthright staffer, I was

fortunate enough to be
one of a small handful
of Hillel professionals
QUESTIONS? asked to fill the Rakaz

Event Chair:
Nelle S. Miller Contact Gisele Pintchuck role in the 2019-2020
941.707.0029 or
gpintchuck@jfedsrq.org winter Birthright sea-
son. I was in charge
of four buses from
college campuses in-
cluding students from Sydney leading the Shehecheyanu on Mount Scopus
the University of Virginia, University but the staff member may need to ad-

of Pittsburgh, University of Denver, dress an issue, so they are not able to
Stanford University and the University visit the wall with the participants. It

of Southern California. felt good that I could help the staff have
This role started long before our their own enlightening Israel memories
feet were on the ground in Israel. Lead- as well.

ing up to our departure, I worked with I also have to admit that a final plus

celebrate my staff to make sure they were pre- was being in Israel during Chanukah. I
pared for things the second we landed. saw more sufganiyot (donuts) than any
Of the eight staff members I supervised,

Y OM H A ’ A T Z M AU T three of them were staffing a Birthright
YOM HA’ATZMAUT

trip for the first time. They needed a lit-
r
I I n d e p e ae l a y tle extra training to get ready for what
s
Israel
would be a fun and hectic experience.
Independence Day
e
n
c
e D
n
d
During the trip, I jumped from bus
to bus to make sure that 140+ partici-
pants, eight North American staff, four

SUNDAY tour educators and four medics were
working as a team. There were days
APRIL 26 when all of my buses were on the same
schedule, at the same place and at the
3:30-5:30 PM same time. Other days, my buses had
the same activity scheduled one after
another, so I would remain at that one Sufganiyot in a shuk in Jerusalem
CAMEL BEATRICE FRIEDMAN FREE location the entire day. There were also one human can imagine. I hope to ful-
fill this role again!

several days I did not see any of my
RACES THEATER ADMISSION buses since I was on the opposite side For more information about Birth-
The Larry & Mary Greenspon
ARE BACK! Family Campus For Jewish Life of the country. right and/or Hillel, please contact me at
582 Mcintosh Rd. , Sarasota One day I was able to travel by sydney@gchillel.org.
NOSH ON
KOSHER-STYLE,
KOSHER BITES FUN FOR
& VEGETARIAN DANCE
FOODS for purchase from TO THE MUSIC ALL
R
Q B
F S
OF SRQ BEATS! ! AGES!
O
E
S
T
A
ACTIVITY
STATIONS
PROVIDED
BY...
Congregation for Humanistic Judaism • Gulf Coast Hillel
Hershorin Schif Community Day School • JFCS of the Suncoast
Jewish National Fund • Kol HaNeshama • PJ Library • STEP Teens
Temple Beth Sholom • Temple Emanu-El • Temple Sinai • World ORT
For more information, visit
QUESTIONS? Contact Jessi Sheslow JFEDSRQ.org/Events
941.343.2109 or jsheslow@jfedsrq.org

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