It’s a Thursday morning in July and NCSY’s TJJ (The Jerusalem Journey) Bus 5 is in Moshav Keshet in the Golan Heights. In addition to the regular minyan, there are small workshops for those interested in learning more about tefillah.
“We had a whole bus experience to teach what it means to daven in a minyan in a shul and what it means to read from the Torah,” says Rabbi Arieh Friedner, Cleveland NCSY director and TJJ Bus 5 director.
It being Thursday morning there is Torah reading at shacharit. Friedner asked if anyone had not received an aliyah before.
Michael Burdjalov, 16, from Cleveland, raised his hand. “This was the first time I finally felt Jewish,” he says.
“You’ve never had an aliyah before? Never in your life? You never had a bar mitzvah?”
Michael responded to all three questions in the negative.
“So how about now,” Friedner asked. “No better time and place than when you’re in Israel.”
Michael was really into it. The staff taught him what to say and he made his first-ever bracha for his first-ever aliyah. His bar mitzvah in the truest sense of the word.
He recalls that everyone was really excited. They sang and threw candy at the new bar mitzvah boy. Well, bar mitzvah teenager.
“It was totally spontaneous and organically turned into a big event for him,” Friedner says.
“Later in the day all the guys in the group went to the mikve in Safed,” Michael says. “And for the remainder of the trip I went to shacharit every day. I definitely feel a lot more Jewish. A lot more connected.”
“I explained that this is a family event and part of the NCSY education philosophy is that it should be celebrated with his parents and family,” Friedner says. “This is a link in the chain of tradition.”
“When I get home I’m sure I’ll celebrate with my family and our friends,” Michael says. “I’m also going to join the Israeli Culture Club at my school [Orange High School in Moreland Hills, Cleveland, OH]. “I want to be much more connected to Judaism.”
Friedner spoke with Michael about spontaneity, about getting something special out of Israel and about being excited to grow and to learn more.
“I really am having the best summer of my life,” Michael says. “And I can’t wait to get home and go to Arieh’s house for Shabbat. This is so much more than just a fun summer experience. It’s the beginning of a relationship. A great beginning.”