ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Young woman’s dream comes true in Israel

By Daniel Horowitz-- As Esther Berman’s plane began its descent into Israel’s Ben -G u rion Airport, she, as well as her fellow passengers, shared the unmistakable surge of excitement, anticipation and Jewi sh pride unique to that special moment.

But, while the others on her plane simply rolled up their window shades to take in the view, Esther, who is clinically blind, didn’t have to scan the scenery to know she was finally in Israel.

Esther’s first trip to the Jewish state was aboard a Canada Israel Experience Taglit Birthright Israel journey. Made possible by a donor at the Jewish Fou ndation of Greater Toronto, Esther was accompanied by a “shadow,” David Lifshitz.

“My experience on that trip was priceless,” said Esther. “It has given me unforgettable memories and created a feeling of closeness to Israel that I didn’t even know before.”

Esther’s experience was made possible by Torontonian Harry Shilling, who created an endowment fund at the Jewish Foundation.

“The Harry Shilling Israel Fund was created to send disadvantaged young people to Israel, and I am thrilled that Esther Berman was able to do just that,” enthused Shilling. “To know that she went and experienced Israel for the first time makes me feel better than if I had gone myself. To help a young person achieve something that otherwise wouldn’t be possible makes me so very happy, and so proud.”

“Being in Israel gave me such a peaceful, fulfilling sensation, and it was just so great to be able to be Jewish there,” said Esther, 23. “For once, I didn’t have to fight for my Jewish rights; I didn’t have to fight my university to defer an exam so that I didn’t have to write it on a Saturday; I didn’t have to ask my employer to give me extra days off so I could observe Jewish holidays. In Israel, all those troubles were so far away. I could freely observe Shabbat and just be as Jewish as I wanted.”

Esther’s Birthright Israel experience also took place during a very special time for Jews worldwide, making her trip that much more memorable.
“Being in Israel during Chanukah was a very special experience for me,” she explained. “It was so amazing to be in a place where almost every household had a menorah in its window. That was not something I was used to, that’s for sure.”

Esther’s maiden voyage to Israel had everything she had hoped for, but, even in her wildest imagination, she didn’t realize just how much she would experience on her journey, with the assistance of David.
“Going to the Kotel was a memorable, life-changing and emotional experience,” she said. “It is unbelievable how this one particular spot can take over one’s thoughts and feelings just by being there.”
Some of the other highlights of Esther’s trip included riding a camel, shopping in Jerusalem and hiking.

“It was an unforgettable experience, one that I will always cherish, and if it wasn’t for the efforts of CIE and the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto, I wouldn’t have been able to go on a Birthright Israel trip by myself,” said an emotional Esther.  “It is because of them and Mr. Shilling that I finally got to experience Israel.”

To establish your own Donor Advised Fund, contact Ronit Holtzman at 416.631.5738 or at rholtzman@ujafed.org