It has been a week since I returned home from Budapest and I can’t believe it. Every day I have an experience that triggers my memory and I recall another small detail from my amazing trip. When I sit at my desk in school, I suddenly remember a Hungarian phrase I learned. Or scrolling through social media I see a picture of my new friends at SSG and my fellow BT students and remember a joke we have. Or reading the Amida, I have a flashback to saying it right next to my friends at SSG. I am constantly surrounded by things that remind me of my experience in Hungary and they instantly bring a smile to my face. Along with bringing me happiness, these amazing memories make me feel the need to share my experience with others in some way. Since returning home, I have been brainstorming ideas of how to do this in the most effective way to create positive energy and influence others to have this wonderful experience.
While I am still struggling to discover the perfect way to do this, I have found ways to share how meaningful the trip was for me hoping that others will find a positive take away from it. Every night after dinner I show
my parents a video blog (or vlog) that I created in Hungary. Although my parents might not totally understand why I am laughing in the video or might have never heard the song I am singing, it brings joy to their face when they see me happily surrounded by other Jews. Similarly, some of my teachers have asked me to speak to the class about the experience and I gratefully accepted this opportunity. This allows me to reach out to other students just like me and encourage them to take opportunities like this one. I try and help them understand that although I had the opportunity to go on this trip, they have a chance to do even greater things. For example, they can help spread Judaism around the world in other ways and create new communities or support groups just like the one we formed in Hungary with the SSG students.
I know that I will never forget this amazing experience and that it would not be the same without every one of the SSG students, BT students, and teachers. I am so grateful that I had this opportunity and learned that if everyone has a similar goal, great things will be accomplished. We all had the goal of uniting to create a new community, bonding one Jew to another Jew, and creating a ripple effect where we can reach out to others and expand our community.
“I truly believe that the security of our future, as a People and as a country, relies on the strength we possess when united.” The former IDF Chief of Staff, Benny Gantz ~Margot
