What an amazing start to the trip! since meeting the group at the airport to our water hike it’s has been a great experience. we traveled up north and went shopping at the local mall. Today we built rafts and raced in the fresh water at the Kinert. We then went on a water hike and had endless laughs together and we all bonded as a group. I’m looking forward to making many more great experiences over the next couple of weeks of trips! could not have asked for a better start! shabbat shalom!

– Shaina Larian

Yesterday was a very long day for some of us. We woke up at 4:00AM to hike up a mountain so that we could see the sunrise from the top. It was a beautiful view and unlike one that I have ever seen in person before. Afterwards, we went to the Red Sea, where we went on a boat with music and even went in the water for a little. The water was really salty. We then went tubing and banana boating in the Red Sea which was also a lot of fun. After that, we had nap time for a couple of hours, and then ate dinner and went shopping. It was a great last full and exciting day before we leave Israel. 

Our journey started bright and early, as our alarm clocks woke us up at about 5:00 am this morning, we all rushed to go downstairs with our luggage and get ready for todays adventure. Since we were all tired from the night before, everyone peacefully slept throughout the entire drive all the way from Jerusalem to Masada. We took the cable cars up and learned about the ancient history behind this beautiful tourist attraction. After walking around and appreciating the spectacular view, we took the cable cars down and munched on some ice cream. After this, we had a short drive to Ein Gedi, where we hiked up a short mountain to this magnificent waterfall and all swam and splashed around. After enjoying our time at the waterfall, we all boarded the bus to go to the Dead sea. For the first timers like myself, we all stressed about the cuts and the burns, but in the end, everything was great and we floated around with our friends. After a quick rinse, we got back on the bus for our final destination – a two hour drive to Eilat. Once we got our room assignments we went up to our rooms got ready for a night out. We walked to the nearest mall where we feasted on some food and shopped for a bit. It was a great end an even better day, to say the least. 

Starting on Friday night we decided to go to the Kotel for another incredible experience. We then had an marvellous and delicious supper, afterwards we heard Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser speak about his life story and how he got involved judaism. We then went to the hotel to have a good night’s sleep. On Shabbat morning there was an optional prayer service and if chosen not to go to we then had an activity in the morning which included the whole group all coming together. After that we had a few hours of free rest time in which we were able to sleep, hang out with friends and enjoy ourselves. After a long rest we went to Ben Yehuda street, where we ate pizza, bonded and just relaxed altogether. After we ate we had the choice to walk around and purchase favourable items at the various stores, shops and all other sorts of places of exchange. Written, edited and illustrated by Joshua Lallouz

Today we visited the city of Chevron. We took precautions and traveled in a bullet proof bus with extra security. While in Chevron, we had the opportunity to meet with Rabbi Simcha who lives there. We visited a synagogue named Abraham Avinu, discussed the history of Chevron, visited the Rabbi’s house and learned about the amazing bravery of those who live there today. Following that we went to Ma’arat Hamachpela where we visited our forefather and foremothers. Visiting the four couples buried there and praying at this site was a surreal experience given the holiness of this site. Before lunch some of us contributed money and bought pizza for soldiers, which was a kind act that I regret not particpating in. Next, we got to participate in my favourite activity of the day which was ziplining in Gush Etzion. I’m a little afraid of heights but I ended up facing my fear when my feet left the starting platform. In order to get back to the ziplining place we traveled in a large jeep that transported 20 of us. During the bumpy ride back we got to experience many breathtaking views. Our last main stop of the day was visiting a kibbutz called Kfar Etzion. We watched a film about the bravery of the pionneers who settled Gush Etzion and the effect it had on the country and the people living there. The part that was the most eye opening about this film was when the opposition tricked the Israeli soldiers and threw grenades in the bunkers that held the injured and wounded soldiers. The perfect ending to our day was actualized when we played minute to win it activities for our evening program. Everyone was so competitive and even though I was extremely tired it was the perfect conclusion to a busy and educational day.

We started off the day with a gap year fair for students that have graduated, are graduating soon, or are just considering a gap year in general. Several gap year programs, as well as on-campus college programs, came to the fair to speak to students. We then went to the Knesset which is the Israeli parliament. We took a tour around the whole building, looking at the Declaration of Independence, the discussion rooms and the plenum. We also met one of the members of parliament, MK Yehuda Glick. He told us his point of view on a few topics such as; the smoke age should be 21 and more. He was also involved in a shooting a few years back when a man with a gun ran into the parliament and shot him 4 times in the chest and he managed to survive. At night we had an amazing event called Yom NCSY. We had all groups of NCSY there, not only TJJ. There where over 1500 kids there! We had food for the first hour and a bit. After that we had a crazy concert with dancing and music. Mordechai Shapiro was the singer in the concert with his famous song, Schar Mitzvah. 

Today was an extremely tragic day for the Jewish people. We mourned for the destruction of the first and second temple. We prayed, learned, shared personal stories together and comforted each other. It made us feel such a strong and deep connection to be reunited altogether. “The people of Israel compose a single soul; only the bodies are separate”. Today, we could all really feel that undivided unity. We ended the night by speaking to a very special lady; the mother of one of the three boys that sadly, were kidnapped and then assassinated three years ago. It was very interesting to meet such a strong inspirational mother that, after all the suffering she’s been through, still believes in god, still has a positive outlook on life, and still manages to have the confidence and strength to inspire people from all over the world. I suggest you all to look into this story, one simple button on your phone for days of inspiration.

Today we went to Har Herzl, a military cemetery to see a couple of graves. For one of them, we got the chance to hear the story of the soldier that had passed, by one of his co-soldiers and best friend of the army. Later, we went to the Yad Vashem, the museum for the remembrance of the Shoah. It was very moving to see pictures and videos that showed us what over 6 million Jews went through. We will now go to prepare for the fast of Tisha Baav.