Last week the front page of the Jewish Chronicle was dominated by a story about a B'nai Akiva tour to Israel. "Snake prank teens sent home from Israel tour" read the headline. I was one of those boys. After reading the article I felt obliged to write my own story.
First, let me say, loud and clear, I had nothing to do with the incident detailed in the report, where a dead snake was draped over the door of a female madricha (leader) and tour members urinated outside her room.
And yet this week , I have heard rumours about myself and have been called, "disgusting", "narcissistic" and "selfish" for "ruining it for everyone".
As well, I was told I was "a bad example" and one of my friends even told me that she heard her mother on the phone saying to a friend that she "doesn't understand why her daughter hangs out with these boys".
All of these hurtful claims are unwarranted and based on unfounded allegations against me. This has left me unable to enjoy and relax over the summer holiday. In fact on the day that the article was released I also received my History GCSE grade but instead of being able to celebrate I was upset because I and many other boys were wrongfully blamed for acts and offences that we did not commit.
We were promised a month we would never forget
I find it ironic to be described as "selfish", when I have given up every single one of my Shabbat mornings to go to an old age home to make a minyan and chat with the residents to ensure that they do not miss out on a service.
I also find it upsetting to be told I had "no respect for Israel" when I actively participate in my school's Israel Society, I plan to make aliyah and serve in the Israeli army as soon as I finish school.
I understand that to many people the stories they read in newspapers are just words but please understand that behind those words are teenagers who were promised a month we would never forget. Now all we want to do is forget - how we were chucked off for being accused of committing acts that we did not.
We're being slandered by people who don't even know our names.
In fact - although I have been given no explanation for my expulsion - I believe it was because I refused to snitch on the tour members who were responsible for the snake incident. I was very disappointed at the lack of leadership from our madrichim and the way we have been treated by the organisation.
The day before I was expelled from Israel Tour I was informed by my madricha that I was an "exemplary chanich (BA member)" and she even went onto tell me that she "appreciated the contribution to the good atmosphere that I had been bringing to the tour group".
I had gone above and beyond what was expected of me, delivering a d'var Torah on Shabbat and leading prayers on several occasions. What upsets me most is how all of this was simply thrown in my face and I was discredited.
I cannot understand how from one day to the next I went from being an "exemplary chanich" to being a disposable one. It was as if all that I had done for the group had been thrown away because I stood by my co- chanichim and didn't tell on them; for that loyalty I was punished and spoken to in what I perceived to be a disrespectful manner by various staff members.
I don't want to undermine all the good work of Bnei Akiva but unfortunately this has really left a sour taste in my mouth and I question whether I would be willing to continue my involvement in the organisation.
A BA spokesperson said:
“It is a shame that the focus seems to have shifted from the positive experience that the vast majority of participants have on tour to a handful of isolated incidents.
We do not doubt that every child who participates in these exceptional summer Israel programmes deserves their place. The fact that a small number of them have been asked to return home early is a necessary by-product of ensuring that our stringent codes of conduct and safeguards are followed.
This is simply reflective of the standards that need to be maintained.”
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