Young Judaea Year Course - Program in Israel - Genna Morton - "Finding Family in Israel"

In the midst of the crazy preparations for Year Course, including buying hiking boots and laundry bags, getting an Israeli phone number and rounding up my friends for a last goodbye, I was sent a very important email. It asked me about roommate requests (clearly the top priority on everyone's minds), but also mentioned Rosh Hashanah plans. It said: "Highlight yes if you would like to be placed with a family for Rosh Hashanah."

For most of my Year Course section, this note could be disregarded. The vast majority of participants in my city of Holon have family to join for the holidays. I have always felt jealous of the people with family living in Israel because they have this extra connection to the Holy Land, something I crave. Therefore, this little question in a little email made me feel grateful. I had a place to go for the holidays!

Rosh Hashanah came faster than I expected. I found out that my friend Susan and I would be staying with one of the Israeli scouts on the program. Scouts are an integral part of the Year Course program. They are essentially the Israeli counterpart of American Young Judaea members. They are part of a youth movement in Israel and they volunteer alongside us during our time in Israel.

The scout we were assigned with was Gur, and he is the most un-Israeli looking Israeli in the entire world. He has flaming red hair and blue eyes and looks like a poster boy for Ireland or even Poland, but not Israel.

Susan and I arrived at his house on the afternoon of Erev Rosh Hashanah, and were greeted by the kindest human being ever: his mother. "I want you to feel comfortable in my home," she said. "Please, take food and drinks from the refrigerator whenever you feel like it." The famous Israeli hospitality was living up to its reputation in spades.

Gur's lovely home was such a nice change from our less-than-chic apartments in Holon. To put it simply, he had hot water and air conditioning. He also had a large German-Shepherd mix named Snoop, which was wonderful for a girl who misses her Schnoodle (Schnauzer-Poodle) almost as much as she misses her own mother.

Rosh Hashanah dinner was spent at another scout's house. Her name is Maayan, and she lives in Rimat Hasharon along with Gur. Her house was also charming and incredibly homey. During dinner, Susan and I participated in a bunch of different family traditions involving food. It was the first time in my life that I was openly encouraged to throw food at the dinner table. Maayan's uncle read the blessings in Hebrew, and her cousin, Omer, translated them into English. Maayan's father told funny stories and explained Hebrew phrases. It was amazing to feel a part of such a close-knit family when my family is so far away.

For the rest of the weekend, Susan and I ate all our meals with Gur's various family members, from his father to his grandmother. I felt the same connection with Gur's family as I did with Maayan's. It was easy to feel like extended family when everyone was so nice and friendly.   

What I learned over this Rosh Hashanah is that the holidays are a time to spend with family, but it doesn't have to be your own. Everyone has family in Israel, even if you are not blood-related.

Genna, 17 years old, is from Roslyn Heights, N.Y., and is attending Washington University in St. Louis next year. She loves downloading even more music to her iPod and kicking back with a good book.