But it ended up being the most eye-opening experience of her life.

The 22-year-old Thorold resident and Brock University student recently embarked on a 10-day journey to Israel, the homeland of her faith, in an effort to learn more about what it means to be Jewish.

It was all part of Taglit-Birthright Israel, a non-profit organization that sends thousands of young Jewish adults from around the world to Israel. It is meant to be a gift in order to diminish the growing division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world.

"The trip is meant to educate us and bring us closer to our faith. It's really nice because it keeps you in touch with your religion," said Rothstein.

Rothstein was born in Canada and has a Christian and Jewish background. Her father is Jewish while her mother is Christian and Rothstein considers herself somewhere in the middle.

"I am not a very religious person, but I am interested in the faith and learning about my past," she said. "I don't go to a synagogue or a church, but I celebrate Hanukkah. I celebrate Christmas, too."

Rothstein participated in the Israel Outdoors branch of the program, participating in everything from hiking up mountains, rafting in the Jordan River and swimming in the Dead Sea to visiting the Golan Heights, riding a camel and travelling alongside ancient ruins from biblical times.

Most of the participants in the Outdoors branch were, like Rothstein, secularized.

"They focused a lot on outdoor activities, we'd go hiking all day, and most of us were pretty secular. It was interesting, though, and I think it really brought us in touch with our religion," she said.

"It was definitely the best trip of my life."

What made the visit so special, she said, was the learning experience behind every step, every new discovery and every person she met.

"I learned so much about my religion that I didn't know," she said.

"We met teenagers and young people who were the same age as us and they were part of the army," she said.

"It is mandatory there to join the IDF (Israel Defence Force). Women have to serve two years and men have to serve three right after high school. For us that is hard to imagine. There was a 20-year-old girl who was in charge of an entire fleet of army tanks and two others who were parachuters," she said.

"We went to a military cemetery and I didn't see one grave that had someone over the age of 25. All the soldiers that were there were visiting their friends graves. It was really powerful."

The highlight of the trip, was visiting the residence and making a presentation to Israeli president Shimon Peres.

"Every year they have this mega event and all the Jewish youth from around the world go to the convention centre."

The president presented Rothstein and her brother with a torch "to ignite the light of Taglit throughout the country."

The torch, explained Rothstein, acted as a symbol to carry the Jewish faith throughout the country, and back home to Canada. "We act as representatives of Israel," she said.

Since her return home, Rothstein said she has tried to follow more Jewish traditions.

"My brother and I are trying to become better Jews so we are doing Shabbat dinners," she said.

Rothstein said while she will probably not go to a synagogue she is looking forward to joining a Jewish youth group in the community.

"The connection that I felt with the people and the whole trip was amazing. I feel like it kept me in touch with Judaism."