by Minnie Stephenson

[The information in this article has since been updated.]

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage across the world, the University of Maryland’s Hillel chapter plans to embark on its Birthright trip to Israel for the first time since the pandemic began.

“It’s really monumental, honestly; we had a lot of applicants,” said Mal Goldenberg, the Birthright Israel coordinator for Maryland Hillel. 

The Birthright trip is a free trip to Israel for Jewish young adults, aged 18-32, aimed at exploring their heritage and Israel in general, Goldenberg said. 

Goldenberg has been recruiting for the trip by tabling at events on campus and presenting at Greek houses that have a strong Jewish presence. Goldenberg even held a party at the Hillel for Birthright Israel’s 22nd birthday that included live music, catered Mediterranean food, trivia and giveaways. 

Recruiting is important, Goldenberg said, but she has an advantage — a lot of students are already aware of Birthright. 

“It’s something that a lot of people look forward to, whether they’ve been to Israel with a middle school or high school trip, a sleepaway camp trip, with family… or a lot of people have never been,” Goldenberg said. 

Nearly 80 students are participating in the upcoming winter Birthright trip, and over 200 students are expected to go on the summer Birthright trip, Goldenberg said.

One of the students going on on the winter trip is Michael Lurie, a freshman communications major. Lurie said he’s been to Israel three times already, but never on an organized Birthright trip.

“I just want to take advantage of every opportunity I can to go back there because I have a very strong connection to it,” Lurie said. “Israel, I think, is a very important part of Jewish identity. It’s kind of this gateway to our history.” 

The pandemic still looms over the opportunity to visit Israel, though. Students going on the trip have to be vaccinated and must present a negative PCR test result before and after flying to Israel. Birthright also requires that participants of the trip take antibody tests after arriving. 

“They’re not playing around with COVID,” Goldenberg said. 

Along with precautions against COVID-19, Birthright takes threats to safety seriously, Goldenberg said.

Goldenberg said every bus embarking on a Birthright tour has an armed security guard on board who is an active soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces. Additionally, five Israeli soldiers are assigned to each trip group for safety purposes as well as cultural immersion, Goldenberg said. 

Each bus also has a GPS that is monitored by a team on an army base in Israel. No birthright trip has ever had a serious incident, Goldenberg said. 

Shawn Laing, the director of finance and operations for Maryland Hillel, said he has never felt unsafe on a Birthright trip.

Despite the potential risks, Goldenberg said Birthright trips are extremely important to the Jewish community. 

“I want to educate students and show them the beauty of the place I love,” she said. “If Israel didn’t accept my grandparents, I easily would not be alive today.” 

Birthright trips don’t get old for Laing, even though he’s been on countless during his time working for other Hillel organizations across the country. 

“I think that being able to have a connection and an experience in Israel is extremely important to anybody, Jewish and non-Jewish students,” Laing said.

Featured image: A billboard advertises Maryland Hillel’s Birthright trip. Photo by Minnie Stephenson.