Machon Maayan
Last week I was truly fortunate to travel to Israel to see the fruits of NCSY’s latest project- Machon Maayan. There 35 of the sweetest girls in the world are spending their first year out of high school exploring their Jewish heritage. How is it going you may ask? Read on and you’ll have your answer in one student’s own words…
“Do you like Machon Maayan?”
“What are your classes like?”
“How are your teachers?”
These are only a few of the questions that someone who attends a first year Israel program can expect to be asked. Each time I meet someone new in Israel and tell them that I go to Machon Maayan, these questions naturally seem to come up; it has developed into a predictable part of the conversation that follows the usual “How are you today?” But unlike my standard answer to ‘how are you,’ which is ‘doing well, thanks,’ I cannot answer these questions so thoughtlessly.
Do I like Machon Maayan?
What a question, right? Is it so easy to talk about something that has changed your life, something that you love, and say that you simply ‘like’ it? No, I cannot say that I like Machon Maayan, nor can I say that I merely love it. This program has introduced me to aspects of Judaism that I never knew existed. It has forced me to delve deep into why I have called myself a Jewish woman. It has introduced me to the hidden spirituality behind minhagim that I have been carelessly doing for years. It is here that I have learned Jewish philosophies and concepts that, in all of my years at a Jewish Day school, I did not touch upon. My eyes have been opened up to view the world in a way that no one could have shown me. I had to see and experience this way of life for myself; I couldn’t have just heard about it from someone else. My thoughts, feelings, and lifestyle are completely different from those I would be having if I had gone to university this year. I wouldn’t be focusing on the meaning of my life, I wouldn’t be looking for the significance and reason behind my faith in Hashem, and most certainly, I would not be experiencing the miracles and spirituality that exist only in the holiest land on earth.
I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to spend a year in Israel. It’s so difficult to wrap my head around the idea that even when all odds were against me; my fellow Jewish people from around the country, from various agencies, and from right down the street in Kansas City were willing to help. This isn’t the first time that Hashem has sent amazing people into my life. When my family moved from Russia fifteen years ago, when my mom decided to send me to a Jewish day school, when I went to Israel for the first time on NCSY’s The Jerusalem Journey - at the time, each of these circumstances seemed impossible. They were life altering obstacles, which my family and I somehow overcame, but not on our own. I knew I was a fortunate child and I counted my blessings. I learned from personal experience how crucial others’ generosity was to my life. But now, now that I’m truly an independent woman, I can not only realize that I am blessed, but I can give back to those that have helped me and continue to help me.
I don’t know exactly what route my life will take or where I will end up, but I do know that I’m heading in the right direction. I know that one day I will be able to help and repay those that have helped me and my family so much throughout our lives. Whether it’s through chessed or monetary means, I know that I will be able to give back to the individuals and communities that have invested so much time in my well-being. Just a few days ago, I attended a shiur in which a rabbi told us a beautiful story about Moshe Rabbeinu. Moshe was an Egyptian prince; on the surface he had no relation to the Jewish slaves around him. However, despite his royal status and lack of apparent connection, he felt a calling to the pain of the Jews. He found himself among them, listening genuinely to their sorrows, and helping them with their labor. He then went on to dedicate his life to their freedom. The speaker said that this story teaches us an invaluable lesson about our own lives. We should not only lend our ears and listen to the problems of others; rather we should actively lend our hands and hearts to physically help them, and emotionally support them. He suggested that in order to perfect our world we must unite and offer our ears, hands, and hearts to our fellow Jewish people. In this way, we will achieve true achdut with one another and Hashem.
I really feel that those who have helped me come to Israel this year are people who completely understand this idea and live by it every single day. Those who have helped me truly do not let a day go by where they do not help another Jew in need and offer anything they can possibly give to fix the situation. Presently, the most I can do is offer my genuine thanks, but in the future my thanks can and will turn into physical actions that represent exactly how thankful I am. In the future the way in which I lead my life will be a symbol of my gratitude. Every action I do will be a demonstration of the appreciation I have. And, one day after I have extended my ears, hands, and heart to someone, and impacted their life, I will remember exactly how much someone influenced my life when they did the same. So, thank you.
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