Amy Rovai

On July 25, 2001 I returned from the most exciting and influential vacation of my life. I have been to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, but none of these places compare with my most recent trip to Israel. When the plane from New York landed after the 10-hour flight to Tel Aviv a sense of comfort swept over me. I wasn't in a familiar place yet I felt at home.

After meeting up with our tour guide, Ron (who I must say is one of the most fascinating people I have ever met), I along with nine other teenagers from the United States set off on our exploration of the Jewish homeland. We delved in to Jerusalem, road camels and camped out with the Bedouins, climbed Massada at 5 a.m. to watch the sun rise, visited the waterfalls at Ein Gedi, and floated in the Dead Sea.

Then it was back to the airport to take a flight to Nairobi, Kenya. In Kenya our group had a chance to meet with one of the tribes in Kenya. I studied the way these people live and how they survive. The people in Kenya helped me realize how lucky I am to live in America and to have a car, nice clothes, a nice house to live in, and most of all a clean toilet that works.

After Kenya we hopped on another plane back to Israel. Once again Ron greeted us at the airport and we went on an archaeological dig in Beit Guvrin. We found clay pots that were used hundreds of years ago. We also went to a Kibbutz in the Golan Heights and had the chance to listen to two brothers debate on their views of how to make peace in Israel. While traveling in Israel we were joined by four Israeli teenagers. I not only established new friendships, but I discovered what it was like to live in fear not to have the freedom to go out at night with my friends because my parents were afraid a suicide bomber was going to kill me.

It wasn't until I returned home that I realized what I had just been through for the past month. I was a changed person. I was wiser and more comfortable being a Jew. I felt safe. Thanks to the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati I will keep the lessons I learned in Israel with me in my mind and in my heart for the rest of my life. This was a wonderful opportunity and a life-changing experience.

Amy is a graduate of Lebanon High School. She will attend Indiana University in the fall. Amy is a member of Temple Beth Sholom. She taught Sunday school for five years and was vice-president/secretary of her youth group. She also has volunteered at Cedar Village.

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