Previous to Oranim's Community Involvement program, I had only seen Israel at a glance through Taglit-Birthright Israel and a tour with my family very similar to that of Taglit-Birthright Israel. Though enough to inspire me to return for five months, I never imagined all of the extraordinary experiences I would have through volunteer work, leadership seminars, education and travel. The Community Involvement program offers participants a ‘total package’ in becoming connected to our homeland.

I was stationed in a city called Ramla, which is certainly not a city of high repute among Israelis, but as a foreigner, it felt authentic and exciting. Uncovering this marginal city’s mystique was an endearing novelty, unique from the beaten paths of Taglit-Birthright Israel. Beyond the fresh produce at the shuk or the fusion of ethnic sounds at any given time of day, I wished I could share with the world the images I was witnessing firsthand of Arabs and Jews living, working, even playing side by side. At each of my volunteer sites: an after school center for at-risk middle and high school youth, a recreation center for elderly and a daycare for disabled children, I gained further cultural insight. Whether the inspirational dedication of the 18 year old counselors at the youth center, the captivating stories of Israel’s golden generation or interacting with the religious women at the daycare, I have memories that will last a lifetime and an appreciation that is truly inexplicable. In addition to connecting us to volunteer sites that matched our interests and skills, we were given the opportunity to participate in Ulpan, tiyuls, lectures, leadership seminars and a multitude of events with peers from other volunteer programs. By doing so, we had the chance to network with Jews from around the world and engage in our own cultural diffusion as individuals of the Diaspora.

If I had only the 10 days of my Taglit-Birthright Israel trip in Israel, I would have still fallen in love with the country. It does not take long to discover the beauty and wonder of a land that sustains the global Jewish community. But the opportunity to live, learn and volunteer there through Oranim's Community Involvement program, was an experience of a lifetime that I would encourage any Jewish, young adult to pursue.

Sabrina Aponte

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