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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

Wandering through the streets of Lisbon is something I'll always remember. My friend and I ended up sitting by the river, watching the people go by and talking, and simply enjoying being on the other side of the ocean. The sun was beating down but it wasn’t too hot out, and there was a breeze but no hair was ruined. and we talked about everything that we experienced on the trip.

-Juliet

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

I’m bringing home new ideas and loads of happy memories. One core moment was sitting on a bench with a friend, near the water, feeling the hot sun and listening to good music. Another was the delicious chicken our group ate with the spicy sauce. And last but not least a newfound enthusiasm in my Jewish identity.

-Katherine

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

What I am taking away from this trip is all of the amazing experiences that I was a part of. First we went to Cabo da Roca which is the farthest western part of Europe. This was one of the most breathtaking views that I have ever witnessed and I don’t think that a picture can show it’s beauty. The other experience that impacted me the most was exploring all of the cities and towns that we went to. It was amazing walking around all of the different color building and see all sorts of different people.

-Kent

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

This trip was extremely educational. We learned a lot of new things and expanded our knowledge on old subjects. I will be taking home a deeper appreciation for the Jewish community I am a part of. The Jewish community in Portugal is significantly smaller than that of NYC. In NYC we have more people with shared views and beliefs. I complain about being the only person with a certain opinion in a room but that does not compare to being the only one in your school or neighborhood.  It is important that all Jewish communities are given a voice no matter how small they are.

-Max

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

I’m taking a more confident and strong Jewish identity home with me. There were so many moments that made me feel lucky to be jewish like the youth movement club and the Friday night service. During both of these experiences I was able to see how different countries honor Judaism and all of their traditions. Especially when we went to dinner after it strengthened the bond between everyone there and we all got to enjoy delicious food together.

-Reese

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

From my Confirmation trip to Portugal, the primary thing I am taking away is the experience and want for a close Jewish community. Coming from a synagogue like Central, and New York in general, I am used to large communities of Jewish people. Although Portugal’s Jewish population is minute (roughly .12% of the population), their traditions and community is as strong as anywhere else. When we visited the Sephardic orthodox synagogue and the Jewish youth movement, I admired their closeness and sense of family. I had never felt a connection through Judaism like that before, and I wanted to emulate that as much as possible. I hope to be able to have that sense of community and connection in my own groups and Jewish activities in New York. I truly enjoyed this trip and the experiences that came with it and I hope I can capitalize on them in the future.

-Ethan

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

On the confirmation class of 2024’s trip to Lisbon, my main takeaway is that we are extremely lucky to live in New York where Judaism is so widely accepted and present. Over the course of the weekend, we had the chance to visit many communities such as the Bairo Alto, Sintra, the Youth movement and other various locations. While we are very fortunate to have many synagogues, an easy time meeting other Jewish people and lots of support from within our community, many people are not so lucky. When meeting with the teenagers in the Youth Movement, I found that the other teenagers are very similar to us, yet the group is one of the few places Jewish teens in Portugal can spend time with people like them. In the end I think that I have obtained a newfound appreciation for the Jewish communities and institutions that I have access to and more sympathy for other Jews around the world who may not have the same options to explore religion.

-Aaron

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

This trip has really taught me that I make a difference not only in this world but especially in the Jewish community. Before this trip, I had only visited Jewish communities in the United States and Israel. It was hard for me to visualize what other Jewish communities looked like especially in Europe and being an Ashkenazi Jew. I am now able to understand what being Jewish looks like in smaller communities. I felt very moved by the fact that although there is so much hatred in this world, the Jewish community in Portugal continues to be hopeful and joyous, portraying their identities through love and acceptance.

-Lucy

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

After this trip, I am taking home new thoughts about Jewish communities from around the world. Portugal isn’t known for its Jewish population, but it exists. I now understand that Judaism still thrives through genocide and discrimination. Furthermore, I learned about different Jewish figures that played a crucial part in Portuguese history; for example, Dona Gratsia, who smuggled Jews out of Portugal to ensure their survival. Lastly, I took away an unforgettable experience at the Youth Movement Macabi Club, after meeting Jewish teens from around the world; we bonded quite quickly, and learned about each other's day-to-day lives.

-Lucas

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

Something I am taking away from this trip is that there is Judaism everywhere in the world. There were so many places and monuments in Portugal that contained so much Jewish history behind it. The youth movement group was a wonderful place in which I learned a lot of history from. I also had a great time getting to know the people and I felt really connected to each and everyone. I felt a part of one big family and it was really nice to see everyone being so accepting and inviting.

-Marin

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

I am taking home a new understanding of my jewish identity. I have met and heard from so many different people, learning so much. I want to take away a different perspective of how lucky I am to live in a place with so many Jewish people. Being in a place with so few Jewish people has really shown me how lucky I am to be surrounded by such a large community such as Central. I hope to take away and keep this feeling of gratitude.

-Maisie

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

I loved Portugal. Super cool place with history and culture. It was a cool experience and I would definitely come back. I have grown closer to my peers and teachers which is something I appreciate. I liked everything about the trip so far.

-Jack

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

I am taking home memories with all my friends and new people we encountered. It was so special to connect to the Jewish community in Portugal. The tour guides and security guards were so nice. I enjoyed all the activities and learned a lot. Specifically, I enjoyed the Youth Movement Maccabi Club and seeing the city. I became a lot closer to my peers and had a fun trip!

-Sydney

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

I am taking home the experiences that we had. They were all a lot of fun. From the spray painting to the shopping it was all unique. Also the food was really good. In the end I made a lot of memories here and those are what I am really taking home.

-Tyler

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

Overall, I have learned a lot from my experience on the trip and greatly enjoyed my time with Central. As a result of our trip, I feel more connected to my Jewish identity and exposed to the smaller Jewish community in Portugal. Meeting new people and trying new things greatly impacted my trip, specifically at the Jewish Youth Club. Their community was very welcoming and easy to get along with. Even though there is a very small population of Jews in Portugal, we were still able to experience Jewish Culture in another country.

-Lizzie

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

This trip has taught me so much and put a lot of things regarding Judaism into perspective. First and foremost, the fact that Portugal has been the home of Jews for centuries and now we have had the opportunity to learn and celebrate that is amazing. Another thing that stuck with me was the memorial of the Jewish massacre in 1506. I thought it was very touching to hear the story and see the exact building that our Jewish ancestors were in over 500 years ago. I loved going to the Jewish youth club because they were so welcoming and kind, and it was so easy to get along with them and have a great time even though we had never met before. Lastly, visiting the Jewish square impacted me a lot because it made it easier to picture how Jewish people in Lisbon lived and I felt a sense of community.

-Maddy

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Confirmation: What are you taking home from this trip?

I’m taking home from this trip a sense of belonging to a worldwide Jewish community.  I’m also taking home a sense of pride for being Jewish - even more than I came with. Learning about the impact of Jewish communities on communities all over the world made me not only feel proud to be part of this community, but feel a sense of responsibility to not only uphold the values and principles of Judaism but to make my community proud. More specifically, standing by the Monument of Discovery and learning about the Jewish impact on the effort to land on the moon gave me a sense of pride.

-Anya