In the summer of 1957, I was 17 years old and just finished high school. As a graduation present, my parents sent me on a tour to Israel with Hadassah. Three weeks later, my then-boyfriend Bob, who later became my husband, flew to Israel and surprised me. He joined the ZOA (Zionist Organization of America) tour group which was already together with us.
At that time, Hadassah and ZOA were sister organizations and toured together in Israel. Both of our groups lodged at the Beit Yellin educational complex in Jerusalem. We all came from diverse backgrounds and religious orientations and had a great time together. It was an unforgettable experience which made an everlasting impression on everyone.
What I didn’t know, was that Bob was writing letters to his family in Brooklyn, documenting everything we saw on the tour. It was only when my son David found the letters in our basement 60 years later, did I learn about the letters. Bob’s vivid, detailed descriptions and observations of the places we visited brought back many beloved memories of our trip.
As much as I enjoyed that summer, recalling details of the trip remained hazy throughout the years – not only for me, but also for the participants of the trip, many of whom became friends for life. The vast number of places we visited and our lack of familiarity with the country made our recollection of each place not-so-clear. But when I read Bob’s letters, everything came back clearly.
My son David recovered these letters and turned them into the book you are seeing right now. Anyone interested in Israel’s early years can derive great benefit from it. The real-time, off-the-cuff observations offer a unique perspective that a standard textbook cannot. In addition to reprinting the letters and commenting on them, David adds to the readers interest by comparing the Israel of 1957 – to the Israel of today.
The 1957 summer tour solidified my relationship with Bob and connected us to Israel. For most of our lives, Bob and I have been committed Zionists. We can trace the origins of that commitment to what we experienced that summer. Moreover, the ZOA provided us with a top-notch tour guide in Gideon Patt, who drew up a fabulous itinerary that made the trip unforgettable.
With assimilation in America raging on, it’s more important than ever to have our young people connect to their Jewish roots by visiting Israel. In 1957, the long-haul, 27-hour flight from New York to Israel was complicated, including several refueling stops. The return of my Hadassah group was on a ship (the SS Israel), which took two weeks to sail back to the USA. Today, flying to Israel is a quick and easy direct flight.
I want to express my gratitude to the ZOA and Hadassah, who understood the importance of these summer youth trips, and gave us a wonderful chance to experience our Jewish homeland for the first time. I would also like to add a “thank you” to today’s Birthright (Taglit) organization for giving our Jewish youth, who have never been to Israel, the opportunity to experience our Homeland.
I hope this book will encourage the young Jews to go out and discover Israel. It has never been easier to visit than it is today.
And while doing so, you might even discover your soulmate!