Magen David Yeshivah High School took 15 sophomore and junior boys to Israel recently for a week-long hesed trip.
“What the boys got out of it was really a life-changing experience in the presence of great people who truly made a difference in the lives of those around them and in Klal Yisrael at large every day,” said Mrs. Sabrina Maleh, who supervised the boys along with Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblatt and Mr. Andrew Lebowitz.
All agreed that the trip changed them for the better. They learned to be grateful for what they have, as there are many out there who are less fortunate. It shed light on life, and helped them put things into perspective.
“This trip has taught me to look at the glass as half full,” said Albert Sutton, an 11th grader. He said that after landing, he wasn’t sure if he went on the trip because he wanted another vacation from school, or because he was there to make a difference. “Slowly but surely, I realized why I was there,” said Albert. “I learned that I could single-handedly accomplish something, and no one can stop me.”
Waking up with the sun and going to sleep late each night, Albert said it was more work than school usually is. He originally thought he would be bothered by the pressing schedule but was happy to do it. “At the end of each day, before going to sleep, I would think to myself about what I did today,” said Albert. “‘How did I put a smile on someone’s face today?’ Then I realized that by simply picking up a carrot, handing a kid a doll or coloring book, I could help give someone the reason to live on, and seek his or her future.”
It was definitely not your average trip to Israel. “We saw the other part of Israel that people don’t normally see,” said Charles Cohen, a sophomore who has been to Israel numerous times. “It really made me think about life as a whole.”
One of the trip’s highlights was going to Shaare Zedek Children’s Hospital, for which MDYHS students raised $50,000 this past summer. As a token for their efforts, the hospital unveiled a plaque for MDY and hosted a touching award ceremony. That was only a small part of the trip; students knew it would be like no other.
Mr. Lebowitz said the Hesed Mission was in the works for five years and finally came together this year. He was a bit apprehensive and thought the kids might think it’s all about fun. “But by the end of the trip it not only met my expectations, but exceeded them,” he said. “The greatest thing was watching the kids change from when they got off the plane to the end of the trip.”
Sophomore Lew Esses said he initially wasn’t expecting any drastic changes from the trip, but after the first day he realized it was a completely different ball game. One particular event stood out in his mind. Students visited the “Sderot Tent,” a tent erected in Jerusalem and inhabited by Sderot residents whose homes were bombed by Quassam rockets. “It just hit me,” said Lew.
The tent’s purpose was to awaken Israel from its slumber and show support for Sderot. Trip attendees also watched a video displaying boys who were injured by a rocket. The idea that you only have approximately 15 seconds to find shelter once the siren sounds is unfathomable and left an impact on all.
Sderot residents are not alone in their displacement. Gush Etzion ex-residents repeatedly attempted to return home but couldn’t. And that, said Lew, remained in his thoughts long after the presentation ended. He appreciates his home more now and tries to help the homeless as much as he can.
Helping others was an integral lesson of the trip. “I realized that what makes me happiest is making other kids smile,” said Lew.
Students received ample opportunities to do so, especially when they were put in contact with Kids for Kids, an organization founded in 2000 as a platform for Jews around the world to do tangible acts of kindness for Israeli kids who have been affected by terrorism. Kids for Kids holds teen support groups and clubs, creative therapeutic activities, hospital visits, and more. Most of all, it encourages Jewish youth to get involved and make a difference.
“They’re kids just like us,” said 10th grader Stanley Cohen. “We say goodbye to our parents every day on our way to school. When they say goodbye to their parents they don’t know if they’ll see them again.”
Greatly inspired, Stanley e-mailed the woman in charge of the organization requesting videos featuring children’s lives and wanting to do all he can to help. Although the organization does not typically send out videos, Stanley was firm and told the organizer that it’s the only way kids will listen and understand what’s going on in Israeli children’s homes. He anticipates an assembly before the end of the school year to raise awareness for the important cause.
The point of the trip was not only to do hesed in Israel, but to bring it back home as well. The boys realized there’s so much to do here, whether it’s in their own homes or on a widespread scale. Another project Stanley got involved in with other students was collecting money for families in Sderot and for soldiers, too.
“The trip opened up a new world for me,” said Jack Horowitz, 15. “It made me realize that everybody does hesed—the world survives on hesed, and without it the world wouldn’t be the same.”
The trip also exemplified reason for giving thanks for what we do have. Jack recalled delivering food and coloring books to less fortunate families, most of whom were living under cramped, unbearable conditions. While conversing with family members, he heard the happiness in their voices and was puzzled. “I began to think to myself, ‘How could these people be happy?’” said Jack. “They had seven kids and all of them were sleeping in one bedroom; their homes were the size of my room. Then they said something that helped me understand how and why they are happy—‘Be’ezrat Hashem.’” Jack realized that they saw G-d’s help with whatever they were given, and learned to appreciate everything he has.
Abie Harary agreed with Jack’s sentiments, and went a step further. Being that this was his first trip to Israel, he said he discovered a love for the land that he didn’t think he had. He noted how unbelievable it is that every person there empathizes with one another because they’re all going through the same thing, and going through it together.
“When we saw the tent for Sderot someone asked, ‘Do they have a permit to do this and protest?’ and one of the chaperones simply responded, ‘Everyone here understands what these people are going through,’” Abie said. He kept mulling over those words silently in his mind. “That was frightening,” he commented. “Everyone here understands what these people are going through.” It gave Abie a sense of pride in his country, his people, and our soldiers risking their lives daily for the Jewish nation.
“The night after the trip I wondered what it would be like to join Tsahal,” said Abie. “These guys go straight to the front lines, no reserves or anything. So since arriving in the States that first night, I say the prayer for the safety of our hayalim (soldiers) every night before I sleep. Now I truly know that I only sleep because of their protection and I owe them everything.”
The beauty of the trip is that these are your ordinary teenagers doing extraordinary things. They’re not astronauts or molecular biologists—though some day they might be. Right now they’re still in high school, enjoying life and enriching the lives of others.
Lew Esses commented that sometimes people, specifically teens, don’t want to partake in something different or hesed-oriented activities because they think it’s not for them. “I’m not this type of guy, it’s not for me,” said Lew, referring to what his peers have said. “But really you are, you just have to do it.”
On that note, Albert Sutton said the trip far surpassed what he expected. “If I could go again, I’d go in a second,” he said. “There’s always more to do.”
Everyone is encouraged to take a trip like this, even on his own. For information or planning details, contact Andrew Lebowitz at (718) 331-4200 x 3919.
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Yvonne Harari is a graduate of Brooklyn College and Allegra Franco Sephardic Women’s Teachers College.
