For decades, the
state of Israel has maintained strong ties
with several
countries that serve
strategic interests.
It is no accident
that in those
countries, many of
the citizens feel an
almost unexplainable
bond with Jews, and
specifically, the
Jewish state.
Stefan Williams,
studying now at Hunter College
(John Jay College of
Criminal Justice),
was able to
experience that bond
with Israelis
first-hand this year
when he realized a
dream and visited
the country.
Born in
Georgetown, Guyana (on the northeast coast of South America,
bordered by
Suriname, Brazil, and
Venezuela),
Stefan immigrated to
the
U.S.
when he was 11.
Thrilled by the
chance to live and
study in America, Stefan
didn’t have to wait
long for that future
bond to begin
forming.
“At Lehman high
school I met my
first group of
Israelis in the
lunchroom and in my
photography class
where they came to
visit our darkroom
where we developed
black and white
film,” he remembers.
“There were two
somewhat random
encounters but they
sparked my interest
in Israel.”
That spark became a
flame when Stefan
and his family made
a fateful decision a
year later to host
two students from Rishon Lezion, Israel.
It is the
fourth-largest city
in Israel, located south of Tel Aviv,
and was the second
farm colony
established in 1882.
It is that
pioneering spirit
that resonates with
a young man like
Stefan.
“From my hosting
experience I just
fell in love with Israel, its
culture and its
people. It was an
amazing experience
to actually see the
individual faces of
a nation that has
often been portrayed
by some in a
negative
connotation.”
The Williams family
loved the experience
and not surprisingly
(as is often case in
exchange programs),
Stefan keeps in
touch with his new
friends.
“I have maintained a
relationship with
these guys via
Facebook and
occasional phone
call. I had been
promising them and
myself to visit
Israel
someday,
unfortunately it
took me three
years.”
Ah, but the wait was
worth it, for he was
able to see Israel
in person, through
the efforts of the
America-Israel
Friendship League (www.aifl.org).
The group’s strong
Youth Ambassador
Student Exchange
(YASE) program made
it possible. In the
lead-up, Stefan
could hardly believe
his good fortune!
“Traveling to Israel was an experience of its
own,” he recalls. “A
schoolmate from
Lehman high school
and I actually
decided to go to
Israel
on the same flight.
He was going to
study there for a
year and I was just
visiting but since I
didn't have an
American passport I
needed to apply for
a visa. So we both
went to the Israeli
embassy in New York together, once to apply and second
time to uplift our
passports with our
visas. I think at
that point it became
explicitly to me
that I will be
fulfilling this
dream and actually
going to Israel.”
Once in
Israel,
Stefan experienced
what most first-time
visitors feel
(particularly
Christian visitors):
bliss. In fact, his
excitement was so
high, he was unable
to sleep!
“When I first landed
in Israel it was almost impossible to
contain my
excitement. Even
though it was 6 a.m.
when we finally
arrived to my
friend’s apartment,
we were unable to
sleep. So we went
for a walk through
the streets of
Rishon Lezion where
I got my first taste
of Israeli food and
culture. From there
on it was just one
amazing experience
after another.”
Stefan’s
“unbelievably
welcoming”
experience was
enhanced by a visit
to the Israeli
resort town of
Eilat,
at the country’s
southern tip.
“I can't even put in
words the gratitude
I have for these
people who opened
their homes and
hearts to me. Today
many of my friends
in Israel are
officers in the army
and some have
already completed
their mandatory
service and are
beginning their
studies for entrance
examination to
attend an Israeli
university.”
Because of Stefan’s
visit to Israel, he feels better-equipped to
stand up for the
small nation, so
vital to American
interests. Although
he says there has
been a
“proliferation of
anti-Israel
sentiment” on
campus, “The Hunter
Hillel has done
amazing work to
combat the
anti-Israel
sentiment on campus
but there is still a
lot that needs to be
done.”
The AIFL’s Charlotte
Frank was a catalyst
for bringing Stefan
to
Israel,
and he remains
ever-grateful:
“I am very thankful
for the great work
she has done because
it was directly
impacted my ability
to become and stay
connected to the
YASE program.
When I first
met Dr. Frank it was
on one of her many
visits to our high
school in the
Bronx
and for me
it meant so
much to see someone
take time out of
their extremely busy
schedule to come to
our school.”
With friends like
Stefan Williams, Israel is far
from alone. The love
is mutual.