“It was one of the most transformative experiences of my life,” says Josh Kaplan, describing the six weeks he spent this summer with the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. “I don’t consider myself a particularly religious Jew. I find myself much more connected through culture and history. And I really didn’t know what to expect when I went on this program. But Israel, quite literally, became my classroom, as we studied the 4,000 years of Jewish history. To me, that was one of the most incredible ways of experiencing Israel for the first time. To be able to put context to what I’m seeing makes it that much more meaningful and that much more special, because I feel much more connected to Israel as a nation, as a land, as a culture. And it was a great learning experience.”
Josh was one of 10 Arizona seniors who participated in the Jewish National Fund program as AMHSI Impact Fellows. These AMHSI Leadership Track fellowships are funded by the 2016 Schwartz-Hammer AMHSI Impact Fund and the JNF Boruchin Educational Fund, which cover tuition, on-campus housing, a meal plan, educational materials and trip costs. The AMHSI curriculum covers 4,000 years of Jewish history, using the land of Israel as a living textbook, with educational visits to the places where historical events occurred, in the context of the era being studied.
Joining Josh as 2016 Arizona fellows were Amanda Bley, Caroline Carriere, Max Cohen, Shir Czopp, Yochanan Gibly, Brian Grobmeier, Lola Maas, Hannah Miller and Allison Tarr. In addition, recent high school graduate Asif Becher received a JNF Boruchin scholarship.
For Josh, a senior at Rancho Solano Preparatory School, one of the most meaningful moments was the first time he went to the Kotel. “I had brought my great-grandfather’s tallis with me to Israel because before he passed away a couple years ago it was kind of his last wish to go see and experience Israel. I brought it with me when we went to celebrate Shabbat at the Kotel. That was the first time I saw the Western Wall. I walked up and I was wearing his tallis, and I just lost it. I started crying. It was very surreal, thinking that I was in Israel, because for my great-grandfather and for me, Israel was kind of a figment of our imagination. And experiencing it like that with my great-grandfather right beside me was something very special and something I will never forget,” Josh says.
Another powerful memory that Josh has from Shabbat at the Kotel was when he was pulled into a dancing circle of Chassidic men. “I think it was then when I realized that religion has the potential to unite people not to divide us. Even though this Chassidic rabbi and I were from totally different denominations of Judaism, the Judaism is what connected us,” Josh says.
The group returned to the Kotel after studying the First and Second Temple periods. “For me, that was the ultimate culmination of my Israeli learning,” says Josh. “I had this religious connection that I felt, but also the historical and cultural understanding of the Western Wall’s importance and that just blew me away.”
Since returning home, Josh is eager to share his experience and knowledge with others. He put together a video of footage that he filmed in Israel, documenting his experience, and posted it on social media. “I think a lot of people have come to see that Israel isn’t a scary place, but actually a very beautiful and thriving nation,” says Josh. He also spoke at his school, where he says he is one of only two Jewish students, and is addressing JNF community events. “I feel much more prepared to share with other people not only what I learned, but also about what Israel is really like. There’s so much xenophobia and almost a hatred toward Israel, but all that comes from a lack of knowledge, not an innate desire to discriminate. I feel much more comfortable being able to educate the people in my community after experiencing Israel firsthand and learning all about it.”
For information about AMHSI and scholarship opportunities through the Schwartz-Hammer AMHSI Impact Fund and the JNF Boruchin Educational Fund, contact JNF Israel Programs Admissions Director Audrey Lewis at [email protected] or 480-4478100, ext. 983.
