Wanting to know what it meant to be a Jew, Brett Robins went on one of the first ever High School in Israel trips to experience Judaism for himself. Enjoying the program thoroughly, he was then given the opportunity to attend Project Otzma after completing his undergraduate studies. As an American on a year long volunteer program in Israel, he was placed with an Israeli host family. From that year on, Judaism took on a whole new meaning to Brett.

Growing up a Jew in New York, most kids would say they never felt isolated or different. This, unfortunately, was not the case for Brett. Born in Brooklyn, his family eventually moved to Staten Island before making their way to South Florida in 1977. Here, he found himself to be amidst intense anti-Semitism, being picked on and beat up by others. After attending HSI, he convinced his mother to work for the program, which she did for five years. Afterwards, she worked for the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Brett’s first experience with a Federation, for over 20 years.

“My father, raised as an Orthodox Jew, was against any sort of Jewish upbringing for his children. My mother felt differently. Their compromise was that I would be tutored for a few months before my Bar Mitzvah. I felt nothing towards Judaism growing up” said Brett. Embarrassed to be a Jew at times, he yearned to move back up north and he eventually did so, attending The University of Maryland for his undergraduate studies. Here, he joined the Jewish fraternity, AEPi, so as “not to be beat up”.

While HSI and AEPi gave him a sense of being Jewish, it was Project Otzma that changed his life forever. His Israeli host family treated him as if he was their own and was the key ingredient in his passion for Israel and the Jewish community. “My Israeli family was just incredible” he said. “They taught me that giving does not come only in the form of money, it’s so much more. It’s about being face to face and having the commitment of love.”

Following through with that conviction, Brett has now been to Israel over 60 times, visiting his host family for every single bris, Bar Mitzvah, wedding and major Jewish holiday. He is also unbelievably involved with numerous Israeli and Jewish organizations and volunteer groups. He is, in fact, so passionate about Israel and the Jewish people that he went back to school to get his masters in Jewish Communal Service Work from Yeshiva University. “Each time I go back to Israel, I become acquainted with another organization that draws me in further” said Brett.

Brett works with Jewish Family Service, films the Holocaust survivors’ reunions, volunteers on Israeli army bases, delivers care packages to soldiers in Lebanon, and volunteered in the Jewish Federation of Broward County’s sister city, Nesher, working at the senior center and teaching English to the youth. His most recent organization that he works with is American Friends of Magen David Adom where he sits on their Board of Directors.

Knowing all that Brett does for the Jewish community, one would think that he has no time for anything else, but this isn’t the case. He has made a career for himself within the video production industry, creating his own company. Action Video Productions provides services to attorneys for litigation support by filming depositions, trial presentations and other necessary tools to help attorneys settle cases and win trials.  The firm also does weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and special events and has graciously volunteered their services to the Federation and affiliated agencies as well as Holocaust Survivor events. “I made a commitment to myself that if I were ever financially able to give, I would give back because I was given so much in warmth and love. I will follow through with this promise with all my heart and soul.”

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