Justin's Journey

Although not an avid temple goer, 21-year-old Justin Goldring took a trip to Israel that led her to discover her niche in life.

The tour was with a program called Birthright that was geared toward 18-25 year-olds who wanted to visit their Jewish homeland. Justin says when she returned to the States she thought to herself: "Nothing seems that important anymore. Materialistic that is." Justin and the group she traveled with stayed in what are called kibbutz, in small communities with lots of land. They are houses with two beds, a bath, and a cafeteria in the middle where the residents eat their meals together. Justin admits that there some are better than others, but she enjoyed getting the feel of what it is like like to live in a kibbutz.

After her thirteen-hour flight back from Israel, Justin realized what she has always wanted to do with her life. She arrived back to the States with a greater appreciation and understanding for the things in her life. Assisting underprivileged kids was her new focus. So in order to enact her new plan, Justin substituted the gifts her parents would have given her for Hanukkah and instead adopted two angels from a Christmas tree. She says that she just couldn't bear the thought of a five-year old coming down the stairs expecting Christmas gifts and not finding any there. Even religious differences wouldn't stop Justin from lending a hand to a child in need. Today, Justin welcomes the opportunity to help those in need. Her journey to Israel may not have converted her into a frequent temple goer, but it has helped her to become more conscious of how fortunate she is.