Earlier this month, 47 students and young professionals from the
Greater Toronto Area travelled to Israel on the inaugural trip
organized by the Jewish Urban Meeting Place (JUMP). This subsidized,
10-day, post-birthright program combined all aspects of the Holy Land –
Zionism, religion, history, culture, tikkun olam and spirituality.
Alison Firestone, top left, got emotional during the group’s visit to
the Western Wall. The madrichah, Debbie Osiel, top right, gave a big
hug to Notti, a heart patient who will get free life-saving surgery
from an Israeli organization called Save a Child’s Heart. A beautiful
view of the Bahai Gardens in Haifa can be seen on the bottom left, and
next to it is a photo of Linoy Hazan, who enjoyed the view of the Arab
quarter in Jerusalem from a lookout point. Lauren Breslin picked sweet,
ripe tangerines straight from the trees at Kibbutz Shiller near
Rechovot for an organization called Table to Table that provides food
for needy Israelis. At left, Lindsay Malet, inspired by her visit to
the Kotel, sits to sketch her view of the Wall. And fittingly, at the
centre of it all, is a breathtaking view of Jerusalem.
[Sheri Shefa photos]
