Steinhardt members meet Israeli leaders

Five Penn students received a special Hanukkah gift from the Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Program when they had the opportunity to spend their winter vacation touring Israel and meeting with Israeli leaders. The trip also included students from the University of Pittsburgh, the State University of New York at Binghamton and New York University, which also have Steinhardt chapters. While in Israel, the group spent six days in Jerusalem, where they had the chance to meet with Ehud Ohmert, the city's mayor. They also discussed the peace process with representatives of the Kenneset -- Israel's parliament. They also talked to Natan Sheransky, a Zionist activist who helps Russian Jews immigrate to Israel. When Russia was under Communist rule, Sheransky was followed by the KGB and imprisoned in Siberia for nine years. According to 1995 College graduate Stephen Zelkowicz, who went on the trip as an undergraduate two years ago and accompanied the group this year, the Steinhardt Program heavily subsidizes the cost of the program, requiring students to pay only $500 for the whole trip. Students can only take the trip once, so people who have never been to Israel before can visit the country. Rabbi Ephraim Levin, Steinhardt's advisor, explained that "the trip is best for students who have never been to Israel because it enables them to get an idea of the geography and terminology of the region, increase their political knowledge of the country and develop a connection to the land of Israel." College junior Laurie Moldawer explained that the trip "gave people a chance to see Israel who might not otherwise have had that opportunity." "The program is for students who want to increase their Jewish identity and become more connected to their religion," Zelkowicz said. "It affects people in different ways, but it always has an impact." The trip also gave participants a better grasp of the issues that are affecting Israel. According to Moldawer, the trip "opened up my eyes to the other side of the world and gave me better perspective on what is going on in Israel. "Sometimes people try to close their eyes to what is going on in Israel and pretend it's not happening," she said. "But seeing the controversy makes you realize how important America is to [its] future." Wharton junior David Chalom said after going on the trip, he understood why so many people want to live in Israel permanently. And College sophomore Melissa Oppen said going through the experience brought the participants closer together. Many of the participants returned from the trip with a desire to become more involved in the University's Jewish community. Oppen noted that she hopes to study in Israel next year and to become more involved in Steinhardt. Levin describes Steinhardt as "an internship where the students make social and educational programs for their peers." The group has weekly meetings and meets with Jewish professionals in New York and Washington in addition to holding events on campus, according to Levin. Their next event will be the group's annual Purim party in March.