A Journey of Service and Discovery
A JOURNEY OF SERVICE AND DISCOVERY
Reflections on Conversion and Volunteering in Israel
By Randy Dahl
Soon after converting to Judaism in May 2026—following seven or eight years of study, reflection, and prayer—I spent three weeks volunteering in Israel through two programs: Birthright Israel’s Adult Volunteer Mission and Sar-El, an organization founded to support the IDF.
Although I had visited Israel twice before, I wondered how becoming Jewish would change my perspective. I already understood the resilience of the Jewish people, yet I was continually struck by the community’s strength and hope. Hearing stories about the October 7 massacre—and witnessing the reflection, rebuilding, and healing that followed—was heartbreaking, inspiring, and deeply moving. I now understood more fully that, as a Jew and a member of the covenant, I too could be harmed or targeted because of my identity. I had considered that reality throughout my conversion, but in Israel it became immediate. At the same time, I felt even more proud, honored, and grateful to be Jewish.
During and after my conversion—and even today—I often pinched myself to make sure I was not dreaming. My journey may be unusual. I grew up on a farm in northern Minnesota, near Fargo–Moorhead, that my 92-year-old father and family still operate. I had little exposure to Judaism until I attended Columbia University—an irony in today’s climate. After college, I returned to Minnesota determined to learn Hebrew so I could better understand the Bible, because Lutheran theology no longer made sense to me. I enrolled in a Hebrew class through Aish MN taught by Rabbi Fredman. He and his wife, Giti, welcomed me through events at Keneseth Israel and Aish MN, as well as Shabbat meals in their home. When their family returned to St. Louis, I began searching for a permanent spiritual home, visiting Minneapolis-area synagogues through programs such as Hineni. That careful exploration gave me the strong Jewish foundation and identity I have today. I eventually found my home at Beth El through Conservative conversion classes offered by Beth El, Adath Jeshurun, and Sharei Chesed. Although every community welcomed me, the warmth and guidance of Beth El’s staff and members—especially Rabbi Davis—made it feel like home. I was particularly drawn to Beth El’s continuing education and commitment to Jewish values and traditions.
Judaism is a lifelong journey, and I knew I needed to deepen my education to understand the commitment I was making and close the knowledge gap between Judaism and my 60 years of Christian teachings, habits, and traditions. That preparation also helped me to explain my conversion to my parents, siblings, children, and others—and consider what it might mean for their own spiritual journeys. In the process, my connection to Jewish tradition, culture, and community grew even stronger.
I am deeply grateful to the Beth El community—and to Rabbi Davis, Rabbi Goldberg, Cantor Audrey Abrams, and Rabbi Swartzwald—for their guidance and patience. I continue learning through the 2nd year B’nai Mitzvah program and Talmud classes whenever possible. Next spring, I hope to stand on the bimah with my classmates and chant the parashah with trope.
During my first year in the B’nai Mitzvah program, I learned about opportunities in Israel, including Sar-El and Birthright for young adults. Then, just days after my conversion, I was surprised to receive an email about Birthright’s adult volunteer program. Its summer mission had just opened and was filling quickly. Because I do not put much faith in coincidence, the timing felt meant for me. I also hoped to combine the trip with a week volunteering through Sar-El—though I had no idea then how meaningful both experiences would become.
The volunteer application process was demanding, requiring extensive paperwork, counseling, and in-depth interviews. Sar-El also required confirmation of my Jewish identity and status. Rabbi Davis and Rabbi Goldberg graciously provided references and helped prepare me spiritually for the trip. Rabbi Davis’s blessing along with the honor of receiving an aliyah on the bimah were especially moving and heartwarming.
I was fortunate to register quickly for a Birthright Volunteer Mission created for people over 50. Birthright planned to bring 1,000 older adults to Israel, and all 40 trips filled within days. My group included 25 participants, most from the northeastern United States. Despite our varied backgrounds, one conviction resonated with us all: Israel is central to the Jewish world. It is foundational.
The most powerful part of my Birthright trip was visiting the Gaza Envelope, including the Nova Music Festival site, where more than 1,200 people were killed. Nova survivor Yuval Tapuchi shared a moving account of the attack and what happened to her friends. Her courage and resilience deeply affected me. While fleeing, they repeatedly called emergency services, only to be told, “No one is coming.” At that moment, they realized they were entirely on their own, and our group fell silent. Despite what they endured, Yuval and other survivors remain hopeful and have vowed, “They will dance again!” I had no words afterward; I could only embrace her. The rest of our group felt the same.
The attack has profoundly changed Israel, including its political landscape as the fall election approaches. As Rabbi Davis said in a recent sermon, “Israel has always been and will always be our sacred homeland. … Our test is not to choose between love for Israel and moral concern for Israel, but to unite them: to strengthen our connection while lovingly advocating for the values we believe this sacred land represents.”
Volunteerism has also surged. Yahel, which organizes service opportunities in Israel, reports a twentyfold increase in participation since October 7. Swords of Iron—Israel Volunteer Opportunities, founded after the attack, has engaged more than 10,000 volunteers, while Birthright now brings more volunteers to Israel than any other organization. The events of October 7 and their aftermath remain raw and stir different emotions in each of us. For that reason, I appreciated Rabbi Daniel Cohen’s recent article, “The Israel I Am Actually Living In.” Having made aliyah in recent years, he wrote, “Whatever your views, this is a safe place.” My hope is not that we divide ourselves into “left” and “right,” but that we build a community grounded in dialogue, diverse perspectives, and mutual respect. I pray that we make time to speak—and listen—to one another about Israel, even when we disagree.
After an emotional week with Birthright, I spent the next week volunteering with Sar-El in a group of 25, including 15 volunteers from Hungary. Sar-El participants are generally assigned to a military base upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. I was sent to an IDF base on Mount Hebron, strategically situated near the borders with Lebanon and Syria and the Golan Heights. Several volunteers in my group had served with Sar-El more than 19 times and had clearly earned the respect of IDF soldiers and Commanders. My Hungarian teammates welcomed me immediately, and together we cleared trash and rubble from tunnels so the soldiers could concentrate on their mission.
Local Commanders and IDF soldiers repeatedly asked me, “Why are you here?” I told them I had come to help in any way I could, but my deeper purpose was to show Israelis that I cared—that they were not alone and that I stood with them in spite of the negativity swirling throughout the world. Soldiers and commanders often teared up when they heard my answer. I understood that this was what they needed to see and hear.
After volunteering, I also had time to visit Hebron and daven at the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb; attend Rosh Hashanah services at the Modern Orthodox International Synagogue in Tel Aviv; walk on the Temple Mount; visit the Western Wall several times; explore the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv; and meet Jerusalem archaeologists excavating the City of David and the Pool of Siloam.
I am grateful to the Beth El community for allowing me to share highlights from my time in Israel and my conversion journey to Judaism. The trip certainly passed in a flash, and my new Hungarian Jewish friends have already invited me to return with them with Sar-El next spring. Before leaving Israel, I promised the IDF soldiers and their Commanders that I would serve as an Ambassador for truth when I returned home by telling their stories accurately.
I encourage each of you, if you are able, to consider visiting or volunteering in Israel. Above all, I thank Beth El and Beth El leadership for welcoming and supporting me during my spiritual journey in becoming a member of the Jewish covenant.