Israel Trip for Jewish Teen Gamers

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Anew Israel travel experience made specifically for teens will give young Jewish individuals a chance to learn about gaming culture, new media and content creation.

Lost Tribe’s Israel Journey: Tech & Gaming is the first trip of its kind. The partnership between Lost Tribe Esports, an organization for Jewish youth that creates connections through gaming, and BBYO, a Jewish teen movement, offers a new Israel travel opportunity that includes the fun of gaming culture while encouraging teens to build Jewish identity and lasting friendships.

“We’re seeing a trend everywhere where the interest in gaming has increased,” says Bloomfield Hills-based Michal Nodel, director of Israel operations and partnerships at Lost Tribe Esports. “We’re seeing more of a movement to online gaming.”

Nodel says the COVID-19 pandemic has brought online gaming to the same level as sports like basketball and soccer because gaming can often be done at home and through virtual channels.

Lost Tribe’s Israel Journey: Tech & Gaming will take place July 5-26, 2022, and is catered to teens in ninth, 10th and 11th grades. Both Lost Tribe Esports and BBYO are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the trip meets health guidelines in the U.S. and Israel. “We’re going to keep adapting and adjusting as needed,” Nodel says. Nodel also believes the trip offers a unique experience for teens to see Israel through a different lens. “The goal is to bring teens who maybe wouldn’t have considered a trip to Israel, to appeal to their interest in gaming and digital media and say, ‘Hey, here’s an Israel trip. And we’re also going to show you really cool things that have to do with your passion for gaming.’”

Participants are eligible for a $3,000 travel voucher through RootOne, which aims to lower financial barriers so more people can participate in immersive summer trips to Israel. Prior BBYO participation or membership isn’t required to attend the trip, and program costs include housing accommodations, meals, program experiences, ground transportation and security.

“The trip will generally follow the BBYO Passport

itinerary,” Nodel explains. The three-week experience is slated to include visits to sites in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, the Golan and the Negev, among others. Participating teens will also have a chance to meet Jewish professional esports players, advance their skills in games, explore tools and innovations used by gaming experts and platforms, and compete with Israeli teens in popular video game titles at live events. “A lot of amazing tech innovations are coming from Israeli startups,” says Nodel, Michal Nodel who explains that Israel is often called Start-Up Nation. “There’s one startup that focuses their technology on making you a better Fortnite player, and they do things like analyze your end-game statistics and help you with strategy.” For Jewish teens with an interest in gaming, the new Israel trip offers both personal and professional perks, especially for those who want to pursue careers in the industry. “It’s an old city, new games,” Nodel says of the blend of traditional Israel experiences combined with modern gaming initiatives. “There’s a juxtaposition between heritage, history and technology.”

Find out more about the trip at https:// losttribeesports.org/2022/01/05/losttribes-israel-journey-tech-gaming.