Sophie Broomberg is an active member of FZY, participating in our summer camps, hadracha course and diller programme. In September 2023, Sophie embarked on FZY Year Course for the best year of her life. Sophie spoke at the closing ceremony of the programme, please enjoy her final thoughts here!
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Sophie and I am a member of FZY. I always knew I would be doing Yearcourse. My parents met in Israel when they came from Scotland and Mexico on their own gap years, likewise my sister came to Israel 3 years ago when she attended Year Course. As an avid FZY-nik, there was no question that I would be spending this year here, but looking back a year on, this experience was nothing close to what I expected, and for that I am in some ways forever grateful.
Rabbi Adam asked me to speak on the British perspective of year course, but how different could a brits experience this year really be? I hear you ask. WELL
The brits came a couple days before everyone else, to prepare for what was about to arrive: the Americans.
We were warned they can’t legally drink until 21 so for most of them this is their first legal drinking experience and they won’t know their limits- these guys are going to go crazy, they can’t hack their alcohol but they are going to become some of your best friends for life. 9 months on I can 100% vouch for their incompetence with alcohol but more so that I have truly made best friends for life.
We were also prepared for how fascinated they would be by the differences in our cultures and language. I was surprised by the fact they didn’t know about things such as ‘water bottles’ and ‘swimming costumes’ . It really is another world across the pond.
As the year began, I put my expertise in drama to use, convincing many people I was my alter ego ‘Jessica from Cincinnati’. We were integrated into American culture with topless Ikey and Jesse and Texan sorority poses. A week later the highly anticipated Lewis dobkin arrived, exceeding our expectations, uniting everyone with his infamous Lewis concerts and his pet Billy the snail.
We had familiar faces to rely on like fzy director Joel Jacobs, our very own Jonny Burman, Lucy Ross and Alex Jaffe. Without them none of the brits would be here right now.
A big part of Year Course is to immerse yourself in Israeli culture: We visited the shuk, the Kotel, and did some rigorous, in depth ulpan classes. The culture here is something I will miss most, that feeling of being a part of one big family. I’m sure all of you can relate to the experience of a brief conversations with a stranger, followed by an invitation to their house for friday night dinner or to meet their son/ daughter who is a LOVELY jewish boy/girl. The talk of Israeli culture can’t go without talking about our very own beloved scouts. These guys showed us the best food spots of Israel, organised amazing events for us but most of all became some of the best, most loving friends.
However, I along with the other Brits, have had a dual experience in learning about new cultures. The Americans have these foreign drink known as borgs and twisted Ts, and listen to many traditional folk songs such as ‘Sl*t me out’ by NLE chopa and another national treasure ‘too many nights’ by Metro Boomin.
This was a mutual cultural sharing experience as we brits shared many terms from our native tongue such as ‘clapped’ ‘tactical chunder’ ‘bunda lengerz’ and ‘minge’ which all literally translate to ‘you have a lovely personality’ in American English.
Beginning of October as i’m sure you all remember was the fateful first Road Trip with the Rabbi. I distinctly remember my nerves of being in such a big group with so many new people, but quickly getting comfortable as we chatted in the quad. The trip did a full 180 the next morning and though I don’t want to dwell, the 7th of October will always be a significant part of all our years. I remember the fear I felt, lying on the road but the parts I remember most was Gabi lying on top of me to protect me, Josh and Nico comforting me, Asher making us laugh with his ‘we just got bombed yo video. That’s what I remember most. Although there were overwhelming feelings of fear and uncertainty-it was these people that got me through.
2 days later I left for 2 months, grateful to be with my family but the entire time with the thought at the back of my mind: this isn’t where I’m supposed to be.
I should be with MY friends in MY country, helping and with these people who understand me.
Coming back was an indescribable experience, I was giving massive bear hugs to every single person I saw, I was home. I threw myself into volunteering, doing some of the most powerful work that will stay with me forever, and I was able to share it with my friends. We set up the apartments for Nir Oz in Kiryat Gat, sewed army uniforms in Kiryat Malachi, and worked on numerous farms. The things we were doing, the friends I was working with, truly warmed my soul.
One of the worst things about being on yearcourse as a Brit, which I am yet to mention, is the friends I’ve made.
By that I mean that I have made connections deeper than any before, friends that I have laughed with, cried with, shared memories, hardships and a year full of meaningful experiences with. And I'm not yet prepared to live an entire ocean away from so many of you. I’m not prepared to not wake up to the same faces, with my feet in Abby's face everyday (my bad) saying our silly shemas and giggles before bed. Eating together, sleeping together. Such a sudden change is going to be beyond hard.
But I'm so grateful to have experienced these moments because If it’s causing me so much pain to lose these people, that just means it was worthwhile to have had you all in the first place.
In the words of Dr Seuss ‘don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened’.
Sophie Broomberg
nice