When Brianna Bartnick arrived in Israel for a 10-day trip with Birthright Israel to experience her Jewish heritage in her homeland, she wasn’t sure what to expect.

However, the uncertainty quickly bloomed into a life-changing experience for Bartnick.

“Birthright Israel is the trip of a lifetime. It changed my life because it made me aware of the wonderful things around me,” Bartnick said.

In fact, she came to New Orleans to work with Hillel because of the profound experience she encountered during her first trip to Israel.

Bartnick is now a Saul & Jean Mintz Jewish Campus Service Fellow at the New Orleans Hillel center.

Birthright Israel is an organization that sends young adults of Jewish heritage to Israel for a free educational experience.

Students register for the program through one of 20 trip organizers, groups that are specially recognized by Birthright Israel for their commitment to Jewish heritage.

Hillel, a national Jewish organization for college campuses, is one of the trip organizers and has a local New Orleans branch on Broadway near the Loyola and Tulane campuses.

Bartnick has been on the Birthright Israel trip twice: once as a participant from a university in Florida and most recently as a staff member that keeps the group together and helps facilitate discussions between the students.

She considers these discussions important because they help the students to reflect on their experience in Israel while they take it all in during their stay in the country.

“Hillel is about creating a community for students. And through Birthright Israel, students who are interested not

only in traveling but in learning about Israel have the opportunity,” she said.

Tulane junior Renee Masor also participated in the Birthright Israel program, which she considers one of the greatest experiences of her life.

“Being [in Israel], you can feel your history. It came from this place,” she said.

And because students travel in groups, Masor feels that this only adds to the historical value of the tour.

“We have a shared history. Israel is the only place that feels like home. It’s family,” she said.

While many students feel this way when they step off the plane, according to Bartnick, the trip experience is unique for every student.

Staying within the group while traveling is an important safety policy of Birthright Israel.

The program has instituted several measures, including the avoidance of certain cities that may be in civil disruption, daily clearance of itineraries with government authorities, and a 24-hour hotline for families of participants.

The students travel in private buses, each of which have two security guards.

Despite conflicts that occur in particular areas of Israel, Masor said that Israel is just like every other country.

“It is a normal country. It’s not what you see every day on the news. People there don’t let terrorism win. They live life and keep going,” she said.

Bartnick agrees: “I loved spending time with the Israelis. Their lives are so similar to mine.”

Hillel has been a part Tulane since 1947 and provides a cultural atmosphere for Jewish college students.

Hillel at Tulane is currently headed by Paige Nathan, Executive Director, and Kathryn Saffro, Jewish Student Life coordinator.

Even if you have already visted Israel with family or friends, you can still go on the Birthright Israel program as long as you have not previously traveled to Israel with another organization.

The Birthright Israel program will begin accepting applications for the Spring/Summer 2004 sessions on March 11.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 26 and are eligible for the 10-day trip regardless of current religious affiliation or financial status.

A $250 deposit, which is refunded upon return from Israel, is required.

The Birthright Israel package covers air transportation, lodging, most meals and other necessary costs for the trip once in Israel.

More information on the project and other Jewish programs

can be found at www.hillel.org and www.tulane.edu/~hillel, or contact the New Orleans Hillel at 866-7060.

Paige Nathan, Executive Director of the New Orleans Hillel Center, and Lauren Caplan at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, which is a holy relic for several religions. (Paige Nathan)

The Israeli flag flies proudly from atop Masada. Masada is one of many historical sites one you can visit on the Birthright Israel trip. (Paige Nathan)