Kesher Talk

Kansas City teens not exactly lining up for summer trips to Israel: Three teens had signed up to go to Israel through United Synagogue Youth: Brian Goodman, Jennifer Polsky and Jonathan Treinish. At press time, however, Jennifer's parents were seriously considering withdrawing her from the program. Amy Jacobson, Israel programs coordinator for the Central Agency for Jewish Education, said she is not aware of any other local Jewish youths taking part in summer programs in Israel this year.

Ellen Polsky, Jennifer's mother, said she and her husband had been undecided about sending Jennifer. But right now it looks as though she will not be going.

"With everything going on, to quote my husband, once all the terrorist stuff started inside the country as opposed to just the outside territories, that's what has been the deciding thing for us," Ellen Polsky said. "Our other daughter, Rene, was hoping to go to Hebrew University for a year this next year, and she has put that off. She's hoping to go in the spring semester."

Polsky said Israel was "one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I'd hate for my kids to have to miss out on it." She said she also worries that a whole generation of children may miss out on a trip to Israel.

"If these kids don't have this experience, that will be a generation that won't have that connectedness," she said. "I know they can go later, and I know they can do the Birthright thing. But 10 days is not the same as going six weeks. It's a completely different experience. (It) gives kids a spiritual and educational bonding with the country that can't be matched through just learning through textbooks and hearing about it through other people."

Stan Goodman said he is sending his son, Brian, this summer, although he understands why most parents "have chosen the safe route under the current circumstances in Israel" to opt out of the program.

Brian said there is no particular thing to which he is looking forward: "Just going to Israel; being able to go despite all the stuff going on."

Stan Goodman has personal reasons for letting Brian go. He said both of his parents were Holocaust survivors. At age 16, the same age as Brian, Stan Goodman's mother was denied an education when the Nazis put her and her family into a ghetto.

"My parents did not surrender to those who would have wished them dead," Stan Goodman said. "They did not surrender their will to live, their dreams and aspirations for their future. Carrying on my parents' legacy, ... I too will not surrender to the Palestinian agenda, to weaken the will of continued support of Israel. I will not let them deny my son, as those in the past denied my mother, what I feel is the most important Jewish educational experience he will ever have, at an age where it will have (more) impact and meaning than at any other time in his life. When better than now for him to understand, both in mind and in heart, that the existence of the State of Israel is directly linked to the existence of Judaism throughout the world?"

Quoting Hillel, Goodman says, "If not now, when?"

"As my parents survived the Nazis of the past, Brian, my family and I will survive the Palestinians of today." (Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, May 31)

posted by Howard @ 6/03/2002 11:52:19 AM