February 9, 2010
This picture was taken during the winter 2010 ICC Greek Birthright trip. Avi Assidon is second from left.
My father is Israeli so I had been to these places as a child. I had walked down these paths, and even eaten these foods. So what made this trip so special? Why do I feel as though I now have a different outlook on Israel and even my own life?
So far while dealing with the jetlag, my answer to most people has been that my trip was just incredible, and left it at that. In hindsight, “incredible” simply doesn't do it justice. In order to explain why, I need to tell you how initially I was totally wrong. I signed up for Birthright with a lot of misconceptions that I feel that many students have. I just expected to go explore Israel and party with a bunch of students in the Greek community. Not to say that isn't part of the story, but rather, it pales in comparison to what this trip is truly about.
I don't mean I remember all of the dates of Israel’s treaties, but I learned and watched others open their hearts to the State of Israel. The nationalism in Israel is a force to be reckoned with and even as an American Jew it is infectious. When asked how this trip has changed me I could not emphasize enough the strengthened emotional tie I had to the State of Israel. This is particularly strange for me since I am half Israeli. Even though I did care before, somehow this trip and experiencing Israeli culture with other students has infused everyone with a deep love and pride for the Jewish state.
Experiencing the food, sights and lifestyle of the people there make this trip special. Exploring Israel with a bus full of students that after a few days all became lifelong friends is what made it extraordinary. The emotional ties to each other and the State of Israel cannot be broken by the distance or any social pressures. A distinct message I took away from this trip is that we are all Jews, and we all have a home in Israel. The last few days the idea to return again spread like wildfire and I would be shocked if every single person from the Greek bus doesn't manage to return to Israel again in their lifetimes.
Being on the "Greek" Hillel bus doesn't mean you are from Greece. The soldiers that traveled with us explained their initial confusion. Choosing the Greeks Rush Israel bus was the perfect choice for me because I felt I was able to connect on so many levels with the other people on this trip. Greek life has given me a lot of opportunities and being able to experience Israel with students like me made this trip especially moving. Individuals in fraternities and sororities are used to frequently meeting new people so day one was pretty much like any other social event. So much went on I could never summarize the sites but only the emotion we shared throughout the trip. For ten days, we sang, we danced, we laughed (I think I laughed for almost 9 days straight, day 10 I had energy left only for giggles.) and yes, at some places we even cried together.
Overall, this experience has been touching in many ways. Reconnecting with family, exploring my father's culture and experiencing Israel in a new way made Birthright much more than anyone had ever told me. Looking back, I can't think of how it could have been any better or more fulfilling. The Greek bus by far had the most spirit, the most friendships, and definitely the most fun. Bus 859, you will always be in my heart.
Avi Assidon
Pi Kappa Alpha from Florida State University
Class of 2012