Isaac on the Jordan River

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “belonging” as a “close or intimate relationship.” A close relationship to what? A people? Land? Friend? Visiting the Land of Israel, you feel all these at once. This summer, the magnificent summer of 2008, I went to Israel not for the first time, not for the second time, but for the third time. Something was different this time around, though. I traveled on BBYO’s Passport to Israel, a trip with all high school students—all Jewish, but not all American. Membership in a BBYO chapter is not a requirement for participants; you simply have to have a curiosity about Israel.

Many participants came to the program not knowing anyone, but I actually represented the other end of the spectrum. I traveled with 11 guys from my synagogue in Tempe, Ariz. Ten of them were in my AZA chapter. I “belonged” to this master group of Jewish teens from Arizona, and I could not have asked for better traveling companions. Through thick and thin we made it—through cancelled flights, lost luggage, a little sickness. Traveling with these guys, many of whom I’ve known since preschool, solidified our friendship. We have never been as close as we are now.

We did not keep to ourselves, though. We had the chance to meet kids from all over the U.S.—and the world—and we wanted to get to know every single one of them. Immediately, I felt a “belonging” to the rest of the group. Some of us had nothing in common except that we were Jewish, but we made new connections. We opened up to one another, sharing some of our deepest secrets and embarrassing moments. We all “belonged” together. We made a tight community. When one member of our group was in trouble, our entire group was behind him, ready to do anything to help. We were a tight-knit group.

The program gave us the opportunity to extend our stay in Israel for a week to spend time on a kibbutz. On this extension, we were hosted by an Israeli family and hung out with Israeli teens our age. It was an experience I could not pass up. We were all matched with our Israeli families when we arrived at the kibbutz, and, I’m not going to lie—I was nervous. Once I started talking to the teen I was matched up with, however, I realized just how much we had in common. We connected on a level unlike any other friendship. It was a global “belonging.”

Every summer, I always say that it was the best summer, as every summer surpasses the last. This summer I can say with absolute certainty that it was the best summer I have ever had. I connected with Israel. I connected with my friends. I connected with American teens. I connected with Israeli teens. These friendships and experiences will always hold a very special place in my heart. This summer, on every level, I belonged.

Isaac Gealer is a 17-year-old from Phoenix, Ariz. He spends most of his time playing and making music, longboarding and hanging out with friends. He's also a member of the JVibe Teen Advisory Board.