Shabbat programming took up the day – exercises on Jewish Identity, and a seminar on Mideast politics. Both were very interesting and well-done. Of course they were one-sided, especially the seminar, but the person running it was engaging and well-educated on the issues, and it sparked some interesting discussions. Or at least as interesting as possible with a group of Birthright kids more interested in getting drunk than in getting educated.
Then, at night, was the trip’s highlight – the Gala. We went to Jerusalem to the Convention Centre, and over 2,000 people from around the world – all Birthright participants – were gathered together. Seeing all those people from different countries and backgrounds – Russia, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Argentina, Germany, and others – all different but all united by the common denominator of Judaism, was really special. Everyone had so much spirit and kept cheering for their home countries, drowning out everyone else, waving flags. Some Canadians started singing hockey songs.
The show itself was amazing; it included an Israeli drum/stomp type show, a classical singer, a choir of Ethiopian Jewish children, a dance troupe that I couldn’t now describe even if I tried (you had to be there), and some cabinet ministers and organization leaders speaking. At one point one of the speakers started shouting out the names of the countries everyone was from, and included the United States. Since there were no Americans on this trip – their trips are later to coincide with the later spring break – everyone booed. Knee-jerk anti-Americanism to be sure, but at the time it didn’t seem mean-spirited, more funny. The best part of the Gala was when everyone sang Hatikva together.
Afterwards was a big disco dance party. Amazingly I ran into some friends from back home who were on the CIE trips, including Eric. All the trips seemed to be having a good time. I completely lost my voice that night but it was worth it.