Last summer, 10 local high school students participated in the annual summer teen experience mission to Israel coordinated by the Baltimore Zionist District. (Photo courtesy of Baltimore Zionist District)

The Baltimore Zionist District celebrates a half-century of its teen mission to Israel.

Young American Jews today are searchingfor something meaningful in their lives, says Idan Zrihen, and Israel can bethe answer.

“I think there are a lot of young peoplewho are looking for relevance,” says Zrihen, 32, an Ashkelon native who servesas the shaliach, or Israel emissary,for the Baltimore Zionist District. “I don’t think it’s about apathy [towardIsrael]. I just think they want to see what it means to their life. We have tofind ways to help them find that connection to Israel.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary ofthe BZD’s annual summer teen mission to Israel. While the trip has undergoneseveral incarnations and restructurings, the objective has remained the same — togive local teens meaningful, fun and positive experiences in the Jewish stateto remain with them for the rest of their lives.

This year’s BZD teen summer experience inIsrael will be held from June 27 through July 21, led by an Israeli guide and alocal counselor. Held in conjunction with the international Jewish sportsorganization Maccabi World Union, the journey will feature a two-day hikespanning from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River; a feast in a Bedouinvillage; a five-day Israeli army education/training program; a raftingexcursion down the Jordan; touring Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Holocaustmuseum; and a visit to Masada and the southern resort town of Eilat, with asnorkeling outing on the Red Sea.

The heavily subsidized trip withscholarship opportunities — which is eligible to Jewish high school studentsfrom across Maryland — also will include visits to Ashkelon, Baltimore’s sistercity in Israel, the northern town of Safed and the Galilee region; spending Shabbat in Jerusalem; a meeting in Haifawith members of the Druze minority group; and hiking on trails along waterfallsand camping under the stars.

Last year, the BZD took 10 teens on thetrip. Organizers hope to attract the same number of young travelers this summerand are speaking to teens and parents about the trip at various congregationsand venues.

“Traveling is not just about somethingbeing exciting. It changes you,” saysZrihen. “We really hope to provide experiences to these teens that will helpchange their perceptions.”

Caren Leven, executive director of thePikesville-based BZD, says the trip aims to provide an all-encompassing view ofIsrael and Jewish life in general.

“Israel ties it all together,” she says.“All of those years of going [to religious school] on Wednesdays and Sundays,and all the Purim carnivals and everything. Finally, the kids get to go Israel,and it all comes together.

“This is the only Baltimore-basedcommunity teen trip to Israel,” Leven says. “So this is for anyone from everysynagogue or organization, or anyone who might be unaffiliated, and bringingthem together in a meaningful, impactful way. Israel is special for everyone,and we view our role as to get every teen there at least once in their life.”

While meeting various speakers andothers during the trip, Zrihen says participants are encouraged to think anddiscuss matters about Israel and the Middle East in a critical andcomprehensive manner.

“We encourage the kids to examine theiropinions and ask the hard questions,” he says. “Don’t ask the questions inAmerica — go to Israel and ask them. It’s a fun trip, but it’s an informativeone as well. It’s an opportunity to stand behind your opinions. We want them toexperience things like the coexistence in Israel [between Arabs and Jews] inplaces like Haifa.”

A major difference in this year’s teentrip is that the BZD is working closely with the Lone Soldier Project, whichsupports Israeli troops who serve without the benefit of familial or communalnetworks.

“Our partnership with them is to helpthis organization and the soldiers in it, so we’re collecting goods — socks,toiletries, T-shirts — and sending them to the organization to distribute tosoldiers,” says Zrihen. “Also, we’re trying to start a relationship with thesoldiers. We will have several Skype conversations with the teens and thesoldiers there, and we hope to have the teens actually meet the soldiers inIsrael [during the trip]. The teens will deliver packages and meet thesoldiers, hearing from them firsthand.”

Leven, a Haifa native and mother of two,says she conceived the idea for the partnership with the Lone Soldier Project duringher most recent visit to Israel a few months ago.

“I was watching these really youngsoldiers, and it hit me,” she says. “My son is 10, just eight years away [fromserving in the military] if we lived in Israel. And here are these soldierswith rifles, protecting our country and doing this willingly. We want the teensto see this, since they themselves are only a few years from that age.”

Leven admits local teens appear lessinterested in visiting Israel than in past years.

“I think people are busier now or theyhave an ‘I’ll-do-it-later’ attitude,” she says. “Also, there are a lot moreteen trips today. It’s not as hard for kids to go today.

“But I say to teens and parents to gonow because it’s the most convenient time [of life] to go,” Leven says. “Onceyou go to college, you can go on a Birthright trip. But once you get marriedand settled, it’s much harder to go. If you’re going to go, go now. Now is thetime.”

Leven says she believes visiting Israelis a crucial coming-of-age experience for a young Jew. “At some point, youngerpeople are going to have to step up and realize that 71 years ago, we weregiven the state of Israel,” she says. “It’s not just up to Israelis to maintainit. It’s up to us in the Diaspora as well.”

For information, visit bzdisrael.org or call 410-484-4510.

You May Also Like
Everyman Theatre to Present ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
Everyman Midsummer

This spring, Everyman Theatre will bring director and Associate Artistic director Noah Himmelstein’s unique vision for Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" to the stage in a contemporary production that's full of surprises.

Mother-and-Daughter Artist Team Exhibited at Gordon Center’s Meyerhoff Art Gallery
Margy Feigelson and Laura Kellam

On display through May 1, “It’s All Relative: Dual Impressions of Nature" features the works of Margy Feigelson and Laura Kellam.

Birthright Participants Find Visiting Israel During Wartime a Unique Experience
Birthright Israel

Birthright Israel packs an emotional wallop for those participating in the aftermath of Oct. 7th.

Hiring People With Disabilities is a Win-Win for Everyone
woman at desk

People with disabilities bring the same assets and qualities to a job as any other perspective employee, writes Stanley Stith of Jewish Community Services.