Mayanot 97

 This morning started with us checking out of the hotel and separating boys and girls. We each went to a women's/men's "Taste of Learning" Yeshivas where we learned about their learning styles and even learned some things for ourselves. It was really cool to see such a different type of learning. Next, we reconvened and grabbed a quick lunch in a strip mall. Then we headed to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial museum. It was an amazing experience as we got the opportunity to learn about everything that happened before and after the war and observe artifacts and pictures from that time. It was extremely emotional and we also got the chance to have a service with prayer and stories from people in our group. After, unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to our soldiers, which was also very emotional. We will miss them very much and we all agree that it was an amazing chance to get a taste of what life is like as an Israeli. We will definitely keep in touch! After that, we checked into a kibbutz and got showered, ate dinner, and got a night out on Tel Aviv! The night out was so much fun and we got to experience it with many other birthright groups. It was a very similar experience to a bar in the states, but something that made our time in Israel  that much more exciting. 

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This morning, we went to Mt. Herzl, a famous Jewish cemetery. In the cemetery we walked around and got the opportunity to listen to stories about those who have been buried there. It was extremely emotional and heavy on us, knowing that many of those there have fallen in the line of duty and are around all of our ages. After that, we got to take a peak into David, our group leader, mother in law's home in the Jewish Quarter. It was beautiful and had so much history! Next, we got some lunch around the Quarter. We got to walk around and we even got to see the making of a Torah Scroll which was so cool to see. After that we headed back to the Kotel and got another opportunity to pray and put a written note inside the cracks. Of course after, we gathered together and celebrated the b'nai mitzvah of 6 of our group members! There were speeches and song and dance and it was so much fun! We then came back to the hotel, had dinner, showered and prepared for 3 different programs. The first program was about the importance of Israel by a group called Stand With Us. She spoke about Israeli's history and the importance of educating  people about it. Next, we had a speaker regarding the donation of blood and bone marrow and the impact it can have on people's lives. Lastly, we did an activity to prepare for the Holocaust Museum tomorrow. We each received a sticker and were told to place it on either a picture of a backpack, suitcase, or closet depending on how we carry the Holocaust around with us. We then had a discussion about it and it was a good way to get in the right mindset for tomorrow.

 These past two days have been very relaxing!! On Friday, we began the day by getting blindfolded and taken to a special spot. We took off the blindfold to a gorgeous view of the whole city of Jerusalem, had a L'chiem and continued to the Pantry Packers. It's a place where they hand package non-perishable food items for those who cannot provide for themselves. It was so much fun, we put on aprons and hair nets and started working together to pack a bunch of boxes. We also have been collecting tzidukah and gave to Pantry Packers, it was over $200!! The whole experience was extremely rewarding. Then, we headed to another shuk, where we were assigned a "secret Moses" and a specific item to buy there. The point of secret moses was to be given a person and to buy them a little gift to give them some happiness on Shabbat. We also had to find a certain item that would be brought to a picnic we were having later the next day. The shuk was extremely crowded and overwhelming but it was a cool experience to be immersed in something that is part of the Iaraeli's everyday life. We got back to the hotel, showered and got ready for Shabbat at the Western Wall. When we got there, it was very crowded with people from everywhere and all walks of life. We separated boys and girls and for a chance to join with other birthright groups to sing and dance in prayer. We then individually got  to stand at the wall. For me, it was an extremely special experience. As I placed my hands and head on the wall, I was overwhelmed with emotion and had tons of different thoughts racing in my head. It was such an amazing opportunity that I know I will remember for the rest of my life. We all returned to the hotel where we enjoyed a delicious Shabbat dinner full of song and cheer! After, we went to a room where we then discussed as a group our highlights of the trip thus far and of course, exchanged our Secret Moses gifts. 

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> The next day, we got to enjoy the Shabbat spirit and have a much needed late wakeup. At 11, we had a Kiddush and then got into groups. In our small groups, we were given a pile of cards that each had certain values on them. Our task was to pick the top 7 and then top 3 values that we felt were most important to our Jewish identity and to help keep Judaism alive in the future. For certain groups, it was easy to agree, for others it involved more of a heated discussion. Then, we had lunch and got to play a game called "Stump the Rabbi". We got to ask Rabbi Levi any questions we wanted to and for certain questions, he was definitely stumped. After, we got some free time and we took advantage of that and got to take a nap.  We then woke up, and gathered where our soldiers had a planned activity for us. We played a game, and for each round there was a challenge that involved us to do things that are part of Israeli culture for teens our age. For example, we got to try foods or learn funny pick up lines. Also, some of us got to put on their uniforms and experience what it's like for them in the IDF. They have to dress in under 7 minutes and then get lined up where they are inspected and disciplined. Next, we headed to a park where we enjoyed our picnic and played some fun games together. We walked back to the hotel where we had a Havdala, a very special experience, and then got ready for a night on Ben Yehuda street. The street was super crowded and bustling, but we got to do some shopping and eating, which of course made everyone happy!

  Last night was so much fun, and definitely not much different than how we do it in the states. Our day today started with a long bus ride to the city of Tel Aviv, where we immediately went to a park to meet up with our 8 soldiers. The 8 of them will be spending 5 days with us and it was so awesome to meet them. We enjoyed a picnic in the park where we played "speed dating" to get to know each other. Then, we got on the bus and headed to the city where we began our busy adventure. We joined with hundreds and hundreds of other students on birthright trips from all over the country. We started with a scavenger hunt in the shuk, a huge marketplace, where we split into groups and had to walk around finding specific items, like certain vegetables or spices. It was so cool, but extremely crowded. Then, we headed to the beach where there was a station set up to make our own falafel pitas using the ingredients we found in the shuk. After that, we got the chance to get in the air condition and spend time with a small dance group in the city of Tel Aviv. They performed for us and then we all got up and learned a whole routine. It was so much funk! From there we got to meet an entrepreneur where we learned about his start ups and the advantages of doing it in this city. Our busy day continued where we headed over to a little square to enjoy dinner and then a concert!!! We watched Mookie, a famous Israeli singer. We sang and danced and it was #tagLIT!! On the bus heading to our hotel to shower and sleep, gotta get ready for another busy day in the city of Jerusalem!  

Another beautiful day in the holy land! We spent our day in the city of Tzfat. We began the day by splitting up boys and girls where we learned about the Mikvah. From a girl's perspective, it was extremely interesting and a really special time that we spent together. We then reunited and walked around and stopped for a bite to eat on the street- never enough shwarma and schnitzel! After lunch we walked to an artist where we learned about Jewish Mysticism and spoke about our ancestors from thousands of years ago. It was "awesome"! Following that we got the opportunity to walk around the streets and shop. After that, we hopped back on the bus  and proceeded to the Lebanese border where we met Alex. He lives in a kibbutz on the edge of the Israeli border and he spoke about what it's like to be so close to Lebanon and Syria, as well as his experiences living there. We returned to the hotel, showered, ate dinner and got ready for a night on the town of TiBerias!  

-Lindsey Klein

Today was quite the day! We began our journey at 10 am where we met in Newark airport. We had a mini orientation followed by us boarding the plane! Just a short 11 hours later we landed in Tel Aviv where it was bright and early with a full day in store! First we started in Caesarea where we sat in an ancient roman theater. Next, was lunch where we stopped in a mall food court. After, we drove all the way north where we hopped in rafts and floated through the Jordan River. It was so relaxing and refreshing in the hot sun! We changed, got back on the bus, and arrived in TiBerias where we checked into our hotel. We all had a much needed shower, dinner and finished the night with an orientation where we continued to get to know each other better. Tomorrow we are spending the day in Tzvat. We are collectively so excited to spend the next 10 days with each other exploring and creating new outlooks on this amazing country!  

See you tomorrow! Lindsey 

It is exactly 4 days until we head to the airport and leave for what is going to be an experience of a lifetime. As I live vicariously through my friends from other schools on this trip, I can only be filled with excitement. I cannot wait until I am able to visit the Western Wall or make it to the top of the Masada or ride a camel or float in the Dead Sea, instead of seeing it on Snapchat or Instagram. I know that the places we see or the things we do will live up to my expectations and more. I have always wanted this experience for myself, and I could't be more fortunate to get this opportunity. I am trekking through my finals, and eagerly awaiting our arrival! 

-Lindsey Klein '18