Now that I have been home for a few days I was able to take some time to reflect on my trip to Israel. I think I can speak on behalf of our entire group when I say that this was an incredible, life changing experience. While the days were long and the sleep was short, we managed to make every moment count. Mayanot 291 was the most energetic group of people I have ever spent time with. Whether we were hiking a mountain in the blazing sun or just sitting in a circle listening to our tour guide Tzvi, it was always a good laugh. We had the privilege of traveling basically the entire country in just a short 10 day period. We saw everything from the Golan heights to the Negev desert and all that lies in between. We have thousands of pictures to share but they will never replicate the moments we shared together. The trip wouldn’t have been the same without our amazing staff Tzvi, Shiri, Omer, Suzanne, and of course Rabbi Levi. They were engaged with the group the entire time and made the trip so enjoyable for everyone. The friends we made will last a lifetime. Not only did we get to meet new people, whether they are miles away or as close as our own campuses, but we made connections with our Israeli soldiers as well. They became our friends from the moment they stepped off the bus and introduced themselves. This was my first time to Israel and it will certainly not be my last. Words can’t explain the time I had in Israel and I am so thankful for that. I feel much more connected to Jewish culture as a result and I look forward to seeing where that takes me in the future. I hope to take the lessons I learned on this trip and make a difference in the world. I can’t wait to go back to Israel and make even more memories. Thank you Taglit for giving me the best 10 days I could ask for.