Birthright trip makes Maharg Israel believer

By DEBORAH MOON

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Birthright Israel routinely changes young adults views of Israel, though perhaps not usually as dramatically as for a Portland man who shifted from considering Israel a bully to wanting to move there.

“I previously thought of them (Israel) as a bully in the area and not conducive to civil rights or peace,” said Casey Maharg, 27. “Now I see it as a home to all Jews, where they can feel safe to practice without fear of anti-Semitism, strange looks or explaining practices. I feel it is a place that is constantly attacked and needs to be defended both verbally and martially. I plan to move there before I am 30 to start a new life.”

Maharg was one of 22 Portland area Jews who joined 18 New York Jews originally from Bukharain on the July 12-26 birthright trip. Jodi Berris, founder of Portland Jewish Events and Portland’s Moishe, was the local staff person on the trip organized by PJE, Jewish Student Union and Israel Free Spirit.

“We were lucky to be recipients of a 14-day birthright trip, when most are nine or 10 days,” said Berris. “We just lucked out. It enabled us to have a fuller itinerary than most trips, including making it up north to practically the Lebanese/Syrian borders, and all the way down to Eilat by the Egyptian border.”

The trip included a Jerusalem traditional Shabbat experience at the kotel, historical lectures, hikes, swimming in the Red Sea and Sea of Galilee, floating in the Dead Sea and free nights at Israel dance clubs. One Portland area woman celebrated her bat mitzvah on top of Masada and three Portland area men celebrated their bar mitzvah at the kotel.

Maharg isn’t the only person from the trip who wants to return to Israel.

Beaverton resident Melissa Statham and her new best friend, Racheal, one of the Bukharains, also want to return to the Jewish state.

“How can someone not want to go back?” Statham asked. “I felt so comfortable there and made friends with the soldiers that were with us. And I love the style, and the people and everything about it. … I just belong there.”

Statham, who became a bat mitzvah on Masada during the trip, said she experienced an Israel she hadn’t expected.

“I developed some new ones (impressions) like how the land is beautiful and so are the people, inside and out,” said Statham. “The whole place is filled with good energy.”

Statham said she met Rachael while the two short women were trying to figure out how to climb onto a tank for a group picture.

“She was standing right next to me (and said), ‘Oh forget it, I’m too short,’” said Statham. “I grabbed her hand and we climbed up and found a nice little corner and we all have that picture on our facebooks now. After that we just bonded. We both went to art school, we both like the same music, we both wanna go back, we had really good conversations. … She is this amazing person who I feel so lucky to have come across.”

Several participants commented on the added cultural dimension on the trip thanks to the participation of the New Yorkers originally from Bukharain.

“I truly enjoiyed the trip partnership with Bukharanians,” said Berris. “It was a bonus culu8tal piece because we had a chance to get to know Jews of a completely differenct backgroun from the Portlnders. I took a personal interest in learning aout their culture and history and learned that while we’re all Jews, there are such different customs and ways of life. I think both groups benefited from each other being on the same trip.”

Lauren Harrold, a student at Oregon State University in Corvallis who is spending the summer with her family in Beaverton, said that in addition to the different Jewish customs and practices, the Bukharanians also differed from the Oregon contingent in their lack of exposure to the outdoors. Many had never been on a hike before, she said. All those cultural differences created a different dynamic, she added.

Maharg said that initially the differences seemed to make things more difficult, but that by the end of the trip a lot of social barriers had fallen.

“They were culturally very different,” he said. “They were much more sheltered, connected to their parents and unoutdoorsy than the Oregonians. A lot of the experiences (hiking, rafting, being away from home) were new and very difficult for them. I was impressed how everyone rallied together to help each other.”

In addition to changed opinions of Israel, some participants also feel stronger ties to Judaism since their trip.

“Previously I had not been involved Judaically,” said Harrold, who said her grandmother told her about the trip. “It opened my eyes and makes me want to be involved.”

She said when she returns to OSU in the fall she intends to see what the Hillel there has to offer.

Maharg said he had never attended synagogue before the trip and now he is exploring different synagogues in Portland. Now, he has attended Shabbat services at Congregation Beth Israel and Congregation Neveh Shalom.

Both Maharg and Statham said they have begun to try and keep kosher and observe Shabbat since their return.

Maharg said that he was inspired by the Shabbat in Jerusalem.

“Dancing, singing and praying with the haredi, soldiers, tourists and other Jews was an indescribable experience,” he said. “There was so much joy and brotherhood through different types of people sharing a religious experience.”

“I had a lot of discussions with the rabbis on how keeping kosher keeps your spiritual arteries clear,” said Statham.

Berris is planning another Birthright trip in December. For more information email Berris at jodiberris@aol.com or Ben Eder at eder.ben@gmail.com.