Wednesday 7/25
It's so hard to believe our time in Israel is coming to an end. Our last few days in Tel Aviv have had a really special impact on the teens. Skylar's mishpacha reflects on their time in Tel Aviv.
Monday began with a lecture on leadership at our hotel, followed by a brainstorming and leadership seminar about how to use tools from this trip in our times as staff at our camps. That afternoon, we went on a really cool tour of South Tel Aviv. South Tel Aviv is a pretty run down area, with many refugees. We learned about how that area came about and the socio-economic status of the area. Then, we went to Bina, which is a secular yeshiva. There, we discussed the trip and our Jewish identity. That night, we enjoyed pizur dinner at Sarona Market, which is a really awesome food market with a ton of different restaurants and shops.
Today was one of my favorite days of the trip so far. First we volunteered at Save A Child’s Heart which is an incredible organization that helps kids from developing countries receive the heart surgeries they need. This was extremely rewarding and I loved spending time with the kids. After, we went to a museum called “Invitation to Silence” and experienced what it’s like to be deaf. This was so different from anything i’ve done before and was a completely new experience. Finally, we spent the afternoon at the beach surfing and paddle boarding which was a fun and relaxing way to end our day.
-Jess Glass
Today was an overall amazing day, but the most amazing activity was visiting the organization Save A Child's Heart. The organization provides children from developing nations with lifesaving heart surgery. First we learned about the organization, and then we played with the kids. The kids were primarily from Tanzania and Ethiopia. We all had an amazing time, and so did all the kids. Not only did we have fun, but we were all incredibly moved by their mission.
-Jess Gordon
Our group did quite a few very interesting things. Yesterday we took a tour of South Jerusalem, went to the secular Torah study and went to the Serona Market. Today we went to Save A Child’s Heart, and went to the Blind and Deaf Museum. I would like to specifically focus on our trip to South Jerusalem. I felt touring the “slums” was dehumanizing and rude. Looking at those less fortunate than us in the manner that we did seemed almost barbaric. The people there are living real lives and should not be treated like animals in captivity. All in all the past few days have been great.
Sam Messitte
Today was definitely one of my favorite days of the trip. This morning we went to an organization called Save A Child’s Heart where they take kids from developing countries and give them heart surgery. We had the amazing opportunity to play and hang out with the kids. It was sort of hard to communicate with them but we learned that smiles, laughs and hugs are universal.
Julianna
Today we visited save a child’s heart, invitation to silence, and the beach in Tel Aviv. Today was one of the best days that I have had in Israel. The save a child’s heart program was very saddening but it was also very motivating and made me want to take action for kids with heart problems that live in places where they don’t have the recourses or money for treatment. I was able to bond with some of the children there and it was very fun. The Save a child’s heart program was very challenging and we got an experience of what it is like to be deaf. Communicating was very difficult and it made me feel the difficulties of being deaf. The beach was awesome because that is one of the main things that Tel Aviv is known for and we got to experience it first hand.
-Matthew Becker
Today we got to experience a similar feeling of being deaf. While we weren’t completely deaf, it was pretty close with the use of noise cancelling headphones. It was one of the coolest experiences that I have ever been a part of. It made me realize the different struggles that hearing people don’t even think about throughout the day. I am very thankful that I got to experience this feeling and it made me so thankful for what I don’t struggle with as a hearing person.
-Ava Connell
today we broke up into two busses. bus 2 started at save a child’s heart where we played with children who are or have received heart surgery. afterwards we switched with bus one and visited the deaf museum. we wore noise canceling headphones where we experienced what it is like being deaf and then got the opportunity to ask our tour guide about her experience being deaf. after we all went to pizur lunch in tel aviv followed by surfing and relaxing at the beach. we then returned back to the kibbutz for the night.
-julia tomases
Raised in an audio-based society, it has always been a mystery to us how deaf people get through life hindered by such an obstacle. As we entered the room, we quickly snatched two headphones, and our hearing was no more. About to take the tour in complete silence, we met our tour guide who was deaf and also very funny. We started off the tour by communicating with only our expressions and hands respectively. The communication was so strange to us, it took like 15 minutes for Sam to put up two fingers. Oh Boy! Afterwards, we learned some sign language through games. The most significant thing for us was when we talked to her through a translator at the end of the tour. It was cool seeing that she lives basically a normal life, raises a fully-hearing baby, and has always been proud and resilient about being deaf. -Aaron Sterling and Asher
Today we went to save a child’s hart where we played with children from different countries who’s medical needs were unavailable near home. These children came to Israel in order to have open heart surgeries and we got to play with these kids. After that we went to a dead museum to experience what it feels like to be deaf, and this was really interesting to feel this way.
Wavy davy
I had a very rewarding experience today at the saveachildsheart program. The purpose of this organization is to give kids from developing countries a chance to have heart surgery who wouldn’t be able to receive it any other way. The ages of these kids ranged from 3 to 14. We were graciously given the opportunity to play around with the kids. When I first looked at them, I was skeptical as to how it would go because of how depressed they were feeling, however as soon as all 36 of us on bus 2 stepped outside to make the kids feel better, (some with a scar of a line across their chest from their open heart surgery), they were instantly happier. It made myself, along with all of the other 36 kids feel a great sense of pride that we made these kids days. It also reminded all of us how fortunate and blessed we are to have been born with no serious health issues, and enjoying this life-changing trip together, having the summer of our lives.
-Ryan Rosenthal
Today we went to "Invitation to Deafness", where we experienced the loss of one of our primary senses(guess which). It was amazing experience, taking a tour in complete silence. Our tour guide was deaf, and as she led us through the dimly lit corridors and strange rooms, I could literally hear the sounds of my own heartbeat. It wasn't until after the tour that we took off our noise-cancelling headphones that I realized how much white noise exists in our lives, and I've never been more grateful that I get to experience it.
-Kutz
Monday began with a lecture on leadership at our hotel, followed by a brainstorming and leadership seminar about how to use tools from this trip in our times as staff at our camps. That afternoon, we went on a really cool tour of South Tel Aviv. South Tel Aviv is a pretty run down area, with many refugees. We learned about how that area came about and the socio-economic status of the area. Then, we went to Bina, which is a secular yeshiva. There, we discussed the trip and our Jewish identity. That night, we enjoyed pizur dinner at Sarona Market, which is a really awesome food market with a ton of different restaurants and shops.
Today was one of my favorite days of the trip so far. First we volunteered at Save A Child’s Heart which is an incredible organization that helps kids from developing countries receive the heart surgeries they need. This was extremely rewarding and I loved spending time with the kids. After, we went to a museum called “Invitation to Silence” and experienced what it’s like to be deaf. This was so different from anything i’ve done before and was a completely new experience. Finally, we spent the afternoon at the beach surfing and paddle boarding which was a fun and relaxing way to end our day.
-Jess Glass
Today was an overall amazing day, but the most amazing activity was visiting the organization Save A Child's Heart. The organization provides children from developing nations with lifesaving heart surgery. First we learned about the organization, and then we played with the kids. The kids were primarily from Tanzania and Ethiopia. We all had an amazing time, and so did all the kids. Not only did we have fun, but we were all incredibly moved by their mission.
-Jess Gordon
Our group did quite a few very interesting things. Yesterday we took a tour of South Jerusalem, went to the secular Torah study and went to the Serona Market. Today we went to Save A Child’s Heart, and went to the Blind and Deaf Museum. I would like to specifically focus on our trip to South Jerusalem. I felt touring the “slums” was dehumanizing and rude. Looking at those less fortunate than us in the manner that we did seemed almost barbaric. The people there are living real lives and should not be treated like animals in captivity. All in all the past few days have been great.
Sam Messitte
Today was definitely one of my favorite days of the trip. This morning we went to an organization called Save A Child’s Heart where they take kids from developing countries and give them heart surgery. We had the amazing opportunity to play and hang out with the kids. It was sort of hard to communicate with them but we learned that smiles, laughs and hugs are universal.
Julianna
Today we visited save a child’s heart, invitation to silence, and the beach in Tel Aviv. Today was one of the best days that I have had in Israel. The save a child’s heart program was very saddening but it was also very motivating and made me want to take action for kids with heart problems that live in places where they don’t have the recourses or money for treatment. I was able to bond with some of the children there and it was very fun. The Save a child’s heart program was very challenging and we got an experience of what it is like to be deaf. Communicating was very difficult and it made me feel the difficulties of being deaf. The beach was awesome because that is one of the main things that Tel Aviv is known for and we got to experience it first hand.
-Matthew Becker
Today we got to experience a similar feeling of being deaf. While we weren’t completely deaf, it was pretty close with the use of noise cancelling headphones. It was one of the coolest experiences that I have ever been a part of. It made me realize the different struggles that hearing people don’t even think about throughout the day. I am very thankful that I got to experience this feeling and it made me so thankful for what I don’t struggle with as a hearing person.
-Ava Connell
today we broke up into two busses. bus 2 started at save a child’s heart where we played with children who are or have received heart surgery. afterwards we switched with bus one and visited the deaf museum. we wore noise canceling headphones where we experienced what it is like being deaf and then got the opportunity to ask our tour guide about her experience being deaf. after we all went to pizur lunch in tel aviv followed by surfing and relaxing at the beach. we then returned back to the kibbutz for the night.
-julia tomases
Raised in an audio-based society, it has always been a mystery to us how deaf people get through life hindered by such an obstacle. As we entered the room, we quickly snatched two headphones, and our hearing was no more. About to take the tour in complete silence, we met our tour guide who was deaf and also very funny. We started off the tour by communicating with only our expressions and hands respectively. The communication was so strange to us, it took like 15 minutes for Sam to put up two fingers. Oh Boy! Afterwards, we learned some sign language through games. The most significant thing for us was when we talked to her through a translator at the end of the tour. It was cool seeing that she lives basically a normal life, raises a fully-hearing baby, and has always been proud and resilient about being deaf. -Aaron Sterling and Asher
Today we went to save a child’s hart where we played with children from different countries who’s medical needs were unavailable near home. These children came to Israel in order to have open heart surgeries and we got to play with these kids. After that we went to a dead museum to experience what it feels like to be deaf, and this was really interesting to feel this way.
Wavy davy
I had a very rewarding experience today at the saveachildsheart program. The purpose of this organization is to give kids from developing countries a chance to have heart surgery who wouldn’t be able to receive it any other way. The ages of these kids ranged from 3 to 14. We were graciously given the opportunity to play around with the kids. When I first looked at them, I was skeptical as to how it would go because of how depressed they were feeling, however as soon as all 36 of us on bus 2 stepped outside to make the kids feel better, (some with a scar of a line across their chest from their open heart surgery), they were instantly happier. It made myself, along with all of the other 36 kids feel a great sense of pride that we made these kids days. It also reminded all of us how fortunate and blessed we are to have been born with no serious health issues, and enjoying this life-changing trip together, having the summer of our lives.
-Ryan Rosenthal
Today we went to "Invitation to Deafness", where we experienced the loss of one of our primary senses(guess which). It was amazing experience, taking a tour in complete silence. Our tour guide was deaf, and as she led us through the dimly lit corridors and strange rooms, I could literally hear the sounds of my own heartbeat. It wasn't until after the tour that we took off our noise-cancelling headphones that I realized how much white noise exists in our lives, and I've never been more grateful that I get to experience it.
-Kutz
Monday 7/23
After a long weekend apart, we are excited to begin our final week in Israel! Enjoy some reflections from the participants about their Shabbat experience
Pinemere enjoyed a very relaxing weekend in Nahariyya at the beautiful dolphin village accommodations. Though we didn’t see any dolphins, our large and luxurious suites were a much welcome surprise and more than made up for the lack of dolphins. We had a nice Friday night Shabbat dinner and services, while some of us got to enjoy time with our families who live in Israel. We started Saturday off with a great activity led by Max called Mister/Misses Pinemere, where we dressed up like celebrity couples and created funny bios. We then spent the afternoon swimming and snacking on the beautiful beach, and finished off our time Saturday night with a peaceful havdallah service on the beach. It was our last havdallah in Israel and was definitely a special one. After havdallah, we headed back to the hotel and divided into 4 teams for flip sync. Everyone had a lot of fun making and performing their dances for the rest of the group. Bennett and Jess did a great job planning this activity for us! We have been having so much fun and Israel and are not ready for it to end, but can’t wait to see our families at the end of the week!
Isaac - I recently had the opportunity to stay on a Kibbutz just outside of Beit Shean. Pairs were assigned a host family with one or more Israeli teen, but despite all the time spent with our individual family, the power and strength of the community as a whole was the biggest takeaway from this experience. The weekend opened my eyes to a common Israeli theme I’ve learned over this trip: society and safety takes an effort from every citizen to function. In the same way that Israel needs the commitment from her citizens in the IDF, the kibbutz needs the help of its’ teens and adults to move smoothly. We got to work with our teen and the daily job he or she has, and I was lucky enough to work with the cows for 4 hours. That small amount of work gave me a sense of pride and a feeling of acceptance or entrance into this tight-knit community. I really enjoyed this chance to step outside of the tourist life of Israel and see what life normally looks like for Israeli kids my age. I hope this partnership between Cleveland and Beit Shean lasts and continues to grow stronger, because I feel this opportunity truly helps encompass Israel as a whole and helped give me a true idea of the leadership and community this trip strives for.
Lizzie - When we first arrived at the host homes I was extremely overwhelmed. I had just left the other 60 people I had been living with for 3 weeks. My usual 80 group went back down to 20 and it felt very weird. When we came out and started talking to them I was nervous and it seemed hard to become friends with people who lived so far away and had somewhat of a language barrier with some of them. I was crying the first night because I was sad about leaving everyone but three girls made me feel at home very quickly. I was staying with 2 of them and we stayed up late watching movies and I taught the 2 girls about string and their younger sister who was 7. Even though she didn’t know any english because she was 7 we bonded over madagascar, games and hugs. The next day we went swimming and again I was very nervous but decided to go sit with some of them and instantly became friends with them. We had so much in common and if they didn’t know something that I said google translate was right there for us. We talked about tv shows, social media and how the group they have at the kibbutz is a lot like my youth group at home. I never thought I would be able to create strong bonds with people in 4 days but I felt so welcomed. Especially in my host family, they were so generous I felt like I was actually apart of the family. My host family fed us so much and gave us matching pajamas and I was so sad when we had to leave. I hope I get to see them again and I have been texting them everyday since we’ve left. Even though we live so far away the lives we live are a lot a like and different and I loved teaching them what was different in America and I loved hearing what was different for them. This partnership was definitely the high light of my trip and i’m so happy with the friendships I made because they truly changed my life.
This past weekend, I was lucky enough to spend four days living on kibbutz Maoz Hayyim outside of Beit Shean as part of the partnership between Cleveland and Beit Shean. I stayed with a fantastic young Israeli man named Iftach, and throughout the four days we spent there, I developed a connection both with my host and the kibbutz. Being able to live on the kibbutz and participate in ordinary kibbutz life was an incredible, transformative experience that was probably my favorite part of my month in Israel. One morning, Iftach, myself and multiple other campers went to go work on the kibbutz at 7:00 AM and spent the next three or so hours working with the cows there. Having the opportunity to do exactly what these people do in their daily life really painted a true picture of Israeli life for people my age. This experience allowed me to see how different, yet incredibly similar our lives are. Even though we live in incredibly different communities and speak two different languages, we bonded with these kids in amazing ways. When we weren’t doing activities, both the Israelis and the Americans had fun in the same ways. Most people talked about the same types of things I talk to my friends back at home about. This opportunity to stay at the kibbutz and live like an Israeli teen was an absolutely unbelievable experience that I am so thankful to have had. The partnership between Cleveland and Beit Shean is both necessary and amazing and I hope that it only continues to grow.
-Josh Shankman
This past weekend we were able to stay with a host family inside a kibbutz. We had one host brother who was younger than us and a host sister that was older. During our weekend we were able to bond with our host family as well as the other host families that our friends were staying with. We all ate together in the dinning hall and in their home. We got to experience what it was like to live in an israeli family which was very interesting. Staying with our host families was a treat and we hope we get to see them again.
-Alivia Teplin and Sarah Schulhof
Over the weekend we left the other camps and lived in a kibbutz. Upon arriving, I didn’t know what to expect. However, once I met all of the Israeli teenagers and my host family I felt like I had multiple brothers, sisters, and a completely new family. My host family, the Ofir’s, didn’t comprehend that much English, although were trying their hardest and actually understood us pretty well. They were so nice and respectful, I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better family. We went to get ice cream, watch a movie, and even hang out playing video games. This experience was one to never forget and significantly improved the quality of this trip.
-Aaron Weinbach
Over the weekend we left the other camps and lived in a kibbutz. Upon arriving, I didn’t know what to expect. However, once I met all of the Israeli teenagers and my host family I felt like I had multiple brothers, sisters, and a completely new family. They were so nice and respectful, I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better family. We went to get ice cream, watch a movie, and even hang out playing video games. This experience was one to never forget and significantly improved the quality of this trip.
Pinemere enjoyed a very relaxing weekend in Nahariyya at the beautiful dolphin village accommodations. Though we didn’t see any dolphins, our large and luxurious suites were a much welcome surprise and more than made up for the lack of dolphins. We had a nice Friday night Shabbat dinner and services, while some of us got to enjoy time with our families who live in Israel. We started Saturday off with a great activity led by Max called Mister/Misses Pinemere, where we dressed up like celebrity couples and created funny bios. We then spent the afternoon swimming and snacking on the beautiful beach, and finished off our time Saturday night with a peaceful havdallah service on the beach. It was our last havdallah in Israel and was definitely a special one. After havdallah, we headed back to the hotel and divided into 4 teams for flip sync. Everyone had a lot of fun making and performing their dances for the rest of the group. Bennett and Jess did a great job planning this activity for us! We have been having so much fun and Israel and are not ready for it to end, but can’t wait to see our families at the end of the week!
Isaac - I recently had the opportunity to stay on a Kibbutz just outside of Beit Shean. Pairs were assigned a host family with one or more Israeli teen, but despite all the time spent with our individual family, the power and strength of the community as a whole was the biggest takeaway from this experience. The weekend opened my eyes to a common Israeli theme I’ve learned over this trip: society and safety takes an effort from every citizen to function. In the same way that Israel needs the commitment from her citizens in the IDF, the kibbutz needs the help of its’ teens and adults to move smoothly. We got to work with our teen and the daily job he or she has, and I was lucky enough to work with the cows for 4 hours. That small amount of work gave me a sense of pride and a feeling of acceptance or entrance into this tight-knit community. I really enjoyed this chance to step outside of the tourist life of Israel and see what life normally looks like for Israeli kids my age. I hope this partnership between Cleveland and Beit Shean lasts and continues to grow stronger, because I feel this opportunity truly helps encompass Israel as a whole and helped give me a true idea of the leadership and community this trip strives for.
Lizzie - When we first arrived at the host homes I was extremely overwhelmed. I had just left the other 60 people I had been living with for 3 weeks. My usual 80 group went back down to 20 and it felt very weird. When we came out and started talking to them I was nervous and it seemed hard to become friends with people who lived so far away and had somewhat of a language barrier with some of them. I was crying the first night because I was sad about leaving everyone but three girls made me feel at home very quickly. I was staying with 2 of them and we stayed up late watching movies and I taught the 2 girls about string and their younger sister who was 7. Even though she didn’t know any english because she was 7 we bonded over madagascar, games and hugs. The next day we went swimming and again I was very nervous but decided to go sit with some of them and instantly became friends with them. We had so much in common and if they didn’t know something that I said google translate was right there for us. We talked about tv shows, social media and how the group they have at the kibbutz is a lot like my youth group at home. I never thought I would be able to create strong bonds with people in 4 days but I felt so welcomed. Especially in my host family, they were so generous I felt like I was actually apart of the family. My host family fed us so much and gave us matching pajamas and I was so sad when we had to leave. I hope I get to see them again and I have been texting them everyday since we’ve left. Even though we live so far away the lives we live are a lot a like and different and I loved teaching them what was different in America and I loved hearing what was different for them. This partnership was definitely the high light of my trip and i’m so happy with the friendships I made because they truly changed my life.
This past weekend, I was lucky enough to spend four days living on kibbutz Maoz Hayyim outside of Beit Shean as part of the partnership between Cleveland and Beit Shean. I stayed with a fantastic young Israeli man named Iftach, and throughout the four days we spent there, I developed a connection both with my host and the kibbutz. Being able to live on the kibbutz and participate in ordinary kibbutz life was an incredible, transformative experience that was probably my favorite part of my month in Israel. One morning, Iftach, myself and multiple other campers went to go work on the kibbutz at 7:00 AM and spent the next three or so hours working with the cows there. Having the opportunity to do exactly what these people do in their daily life really painted a true picture of Israeli life for people my age. This experience allowed me to see how different, yet incredibly similar our lives are. Even though we live in incredibly different communities and speak two different languages, we bonded with these kids in amazing ways. When we weren’t doing activities, both the Israelis and the Americans had fun in the same ways. Most people talked about the same types of things I talk to my friends back at home about. This opportunity to stay at the kibbutz and live like an Israeli teen was an absolutely unbelievable experience that I am so thankful to have had. The partnership between Cleveland and Beit Shean is both necessary and amazing and I hope that it only continues to grow.
-Josh Shankman
This past weekend we were able to stay with a host family inside a kibbutz. We had one host brother who was younger than us and a host sister that was older. During our weekend we were able to bond with our host family as well as the other host families that our friends were staying with. We all ate together in the dinning hall and in their home. We got to experience what it was like to live in an israeli family which was very interesting. Staying with our host families was a treat and we hope we get to see them again.
-Alivia Teplin and Sarah Schulhof
Over the weekend we left the other camps and lived in a kibbutz. Upon arriving, I didn’t know what to expect. However, once I met all of the Israeli teenagers and my host family I felt like I had multiple brothers, sisters, and a completely new family. My host family, the Ofir’s, didn’t comprehend that much English, although were trying their hardest and actually understood us pretty well. They were so nice and respectful, I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better family. We went to get ice cream, watch a movie, and even hang out playing video games. This experience was one to never forget and significantly improved the quality of this trip.
-Aaron Weinbach
Over the weekend we left the other camps and lived in a kibbutz. Upon arriving, I didn’t know what to expect. However, once I met all of the Israeli teenagers and my host family I felt like I had multiple brothers, sisters, and a completely new family. They were so nice and respectful, I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better family. We went to get ice cream, watch a movie, and even hang out playing video games. This experience was one to never forget and significantly improved the quality of this trip.
Friday 7/20
Shabbat Shalom! Before all of the camps enjoy their partnership shabbat weekends, here is a brief update of our last few days!
Golan Heights:
Tuesday we spent our day in the Golan Heights, in Northern Israel. We started our day with a relaxing and cool water hike in a nature park on the Jordan River. Then, our group experienced an off-road Jeep tour of the Golan Heights. The jeep tour was really fun and we got to stop at an old army base. Our tour guides helped give us an understanding of the history of the area in a really fun way.
Rosh Hanikrah and Acco:
On Wednesday we started our day at Rosh Hanikrah, which are beautiful ocean caves. We started at the lookout of the far northern border and it was an unbelievable view. After we took the cable cars down, we got to explore the ocean caves which were beautiful. Then, we went to Acco and learned about the Crusader history of the area. We explored an old fortress museum and got to walk through the ancient tunnels and underground systems of the city.
Acre Extreme Challenge Park:
As a group, we braved our way around the Extreme Challenge Park in Acco. After exploring the old city, we bussed over to the challenge park for new adventures, excited and anxious simultaneously. The park was huge, with new thrills to try all over the place. We climbed the rock walls, using our upper-body strength to push ourselves to the top of the walls. Then, we tried the ziplines, and since we did it in ours we shared the experience with our friends as we zipped through the sky, laughing and screaming together. The scariest thing at the park, however, was the bungee drop. Up maybe ten or more stories, we were attached to a bungee cord and just jumped down to the ground. Although it seemed daunting at first, I think we all agree that it was such an amazing experience!! We then said goodbye to Camp Wise as they left for homestays and we continued on with our day.
Haifa:
Thursday morning we went to the Ba'hai gardens in Haifa. They were breathtaking and it was really cool to learn a bit about the Ba'hai religion. Then, we visited an Artist Village called Ein Hod. We were greeted by many different forms of art, including sculptures and music. A percussionist originally from New York played us some beats on a variety of instruments. He is in fact so good that he is the only outsider allowed to perform for the Roma (Gypsy) community. We also met a woman who did silk screening and a pair of twins who followed in their parents’ footsteps and worked in ceramics. It was overall an amazing experience to see all the amazing forms of art!
Golan Heights:
Tuesday we spent our day in the Golan Heights, in Northern Israel. We started our day with a relaxing and cool water hike in a nature park on the Jordan River. Then, our group experienced an off-road Jeep tour of the Golan Heights. The jeep tour was really fun and we got to stop at an old army base. Our tour guides helped give us an understanding of the history of the area in a really fun way.
Rosh Hanikrah and Acco:
On Wednesday we started our day at Rosh Hanikrah, which are beautiful ocean caves. We started at the lookout of the far northern border and it was an unbelievable view. After we took the cable cars down, we got to explore the ocean caves which were beautiful. Then, we went to Acco and learned about the Crusader history of the area. We explored an old fortress museum and got to walk through the ancient tunnels and underground systems of the city.
Acre Extreme Challenge Park:
As a group, we braved our way around the Extreme Challenge Park in Acco. After exploring the old city, we bussed over to the challenge park for new adventures, excited and anxious simultaneously. The park was huge, with new thrills to try all over the place. We climbed the rock walls, using our upper-body strength to push ourselves to the top of the walls. Then, we tried the ziplines, and since we did it in ours we shared the experience with our friends as we zipped through the sky, laughing and screaming together. The scariest thing at the park, however, was the bungee drop. Up maybe ten or more stories, we were attached to a bungee cord and just jumped down to the ground. Although it seemed daunting at first, I think we all agree that it was such an amazing experience!! We then said goodbye to Camp Wise as they left for homestays and we continued on with our day.
Haifa:
Thursday morning we went to the Ba'hai gardens in Haifa. They were breathtaking and it was really cool to learn a bit about the Ba'hai religion. Then, we visited an Artist Village called Ein Hod. We were greeted by many different forms of art, including sculptures and music. A percussionist originally from New York played us some beats on a variety of instruments. He is in fact so good that he is the only outsider allowed to perform for the Roma (Gypsy) community. We also met a woman who did silk screening and a pair of twins who followed in their parents’ footsteps and worked in ceramics. It was overall an amazing experience to see all the amazing forms of art!
Thursday 7/19
It's been an eventful few days! Eva's mishpocha describes our eventful first couple of days in Northern Israel, and look out for another blog post tomorrow with reflections from the last couple of days! Our group is starting to go our separate ways for our partnership weekends, but you can look forward to one more post before shabbat!
Lexi Gartenberg:
On Sunday afternoon we went to Aqua Kef. It was a bunch of lake toys on the sea of Galilee. We started out with the obstacle course which ended with a giant slide. It was super challenging to climb through all of the obstacles, but so much fun! One of the obstacles was climbing a large wall where we were able to jump off, trying to land on part of the lake toy. Only some people made it and I was not one of them. Overall, it was a lot of fun and definitely one of the best parts of the trip so far.
Eli Kales:
Monday was spent exploring the ancient city of Tsfat. We took our bus to the outskirts of the city and then embarked on a walking tour around the sights of the marvelous town, seeing all of the spirituality that fills the village with an amazing sense of community and connection to a higher power. We then embarked on everyone's favorite experience, pizur lunch!! We walked around shopping, practicing our bartering skills and getting goodies and gifts for our friends and family back home, as well as some keepsakes for ourselves for the memories. Along with many others, I stopped to grab a bite at a Yemenite kitchen, which served almost crepe-like pancakes that were filled with cheese and vegetables. Delicious! We then got back on our buses to embark for the rest of the journey, a little bit more broke and fuller.
Max Steiger:
Monday afternoon we went rafting on the Jordan River. It was very fun and a chill break from a hectic couple of days. The Jordan River was nice and cold, which was refreshing due to the heat. Going into the rafting trip I wasn’t sure what to expect but it turned out to be an awesome experiences full of fun times.
Sammy Lehrich:
After rafting we tracked north to a kibbutz on the border to Lebanon. At this Kibbutz, we learned about how it makes money through tourism, agriculture, and education. In addition, we were taught the history of the Kibbutz throughout the Israel Lebanon conflicts and how the Kibbutz managed to keep Israel’s border and defend itself. Our educator also talked about his life and how he ended up on a Kibbutz in the Galilee. Having been born in 1921 in Ohio, he made Aliya at age 21. He joined the paratroopers and served 26 years in the IDF, fighting in all conflicts since 1967. It was very interesting to see his perspective on the conflict and how him and his kibbutz handle the situation.
Lexi Gartenberg:
On Sunday afternoon we went to Aqua Kef. It was a bunch of lake toys on the sea of Galilee. We started out with the obstacle course which ended with a giant slide. It was super challenging to climb through all of the obstacles, but so much fun! One of the obstacles was climbing a large wall where we were able to jump off, trying to land on part of the lake toy. Only some people made it and I was not one of them. Overall, it was a lot of fun and definitely one of the best parts of the trip so far.
Eli Kales:
Monday was spent exploring the ancient city of Tsfat. We took our bus to the outskirts of the city and then embarked on a walking tour around the sights of the marvelous town, seeing all of the spirituality that fills the village with an amazing sense of community and connection to a higher power. We then embarked on everyone's favorite experience, pizur lunch!! We walked around shopping, practicing our bartering skills and getting goodies and gifts for our friends and family back home, as well as some keepsakes for ourselves for the memories. Along with many others, I stopped to grab a bite at a Yemenite kitchen, which served almost crepe-like pancakes that were filled with cheese and vegetables. Delicious! We then got back on our buses to embark for the rest of the journey, a little bit more broke and fuller.
Max Steiger:
Monday afternoon we went rafting on the Jordan River. It was very fun and a chill break from a hectic couple of days. The Jordan River was nice and cold, which was refreshing due to the heat. Going into the rafting trip I wasn’t sure what to expect but it turned out to be an awesome experiences full of fun times.
Sammy Lehrich:
After rafting we tracked north to a kibbutz on the border to Lebanon. At this Kibbutz, we learned about how it makes money through tourism, agriculture, and education. In addition, we were taught the history of the Kibbutz throughout the Israel Lebanon conflicts and how the Kibbutz managed to keep Israel’s border and defend itself. Our educator also talked about his life and how he ended up on a Kibbutz in the Galilee. Having been born in 1921 in Ohio, he made Aliya at age 21. He joined the paratroopers and served 26 years in the IDF, fighting in all conflicts since 1967. It was very interesting to see his perspective on the conflict and how him and his kibbutz handle the situation.
Monday 7/16
Goodbye Jerusalem, Hello Northern Israel! Our group enjoyed Shabbat in Jerusalem before making our way up North to the Sea of Gallilee. Max's mishpocha reflects on the weekend in Israel.
Friday was such a fun filled day that began with Nahal Prat natural springs right outside of Jerusalem. We splashed around and caught some rays while also meeting some local Jordanians. It was amazing to meet and speak with them and though we don’t speak the same language or come from similar backgrounds, it was great learning from them and making new friends.
After the springs, we went to Ben Yehuda street for lunch and some shopping time. Eating great falafel and bargaining our tushies off for a great deal was so much fun and such a highlight of the trip. Many of our participants also ran into friends from home and people on other trips.
We had the quintessential Jerusalem shabbat experience when we went to the Old City. We arrived at the Kotel an hour before shabbat began, and enjoyed our time together at the egalitarian wall. We had a short service at the mixed wall and then separated to visit the men's and women's side. The men were dancing and chanting in a fun group circle and the women got to sing together giving us a great sense of community and a fun religious experience.
Saturday Shabbat was very relaxing spending time together at the hotel and having morning services by the pool together was beautiful. In the afternoon, we sat by the pool and played games in the sun. A big group also enjoyed a typical Jerusalem shabbat experience, by going to Gan Saker, a local park. They played football, read, and enjoyed the sun.
After havdallah we had a split gender program, which was really eye opening, emotional, and meaningful making connections in our two groups. We will never forget our amazing and spiritual Shabbat in Jerusalem.
Friday was such a fun filled day that began with Nahal Prat natural springs right outside of Jerusalem. We splashed around and caught some rays while also meeting some local Jordanians. It was amazing to meet and speak with them and though we don’t speak the same language or come from similar backgrounds, it was great learning from them and making new friends.
After the springs, we went to Ben Yehuda street for lunch and some shopping time. Eating great falafel and bargaining our tushies off for a great deal was so much fun and such a highlight of the trip. Many of our participants also ran into friends from home and people on other trips.
We had the quintessential Jerusalem shabbat experience when we went to the Old City. We arrived at the Kotel an hour before shabbat began, and enjoyed our time together at the egalitarian wall. We had a short service at the mixed wall and then separated to visit the men's and women's side. The men were dancing and chanting in a fun group circle and the women got to sing together giving us a great sense of community and a fun religious experience.
Saturday Shabbat was very relaxing spending time together at the hotel and having morning services by the pool together was beautiful. In the afternoon, we sat by the pool and played games in the sun. A big group also enjoyed a typical Jerusalem shabbat experience, by going to Gan Saker, a local park. They played football, read, and enjoyed the sun.
After havdallah we had a split gender program, which was really eye opening, emotional, and meaningful making connections in our two groups. We will never forget our amazing and spiritual Shabbat in Jerusalem.
Friday 7/13
Happy Friday the Thirteenth! Today Skylar's mishpocha reflects on a meaningful few days in Jerusalem.
Today was our most mentally taxing day of the past two weeks. First we went to yad vashem which was incredibly moving, as expected. What was more surprising was how touched we were by the military cemetery on Mt Hertzel. Being American, many of us were not expecting to feel the incredible power of the cemetery that many Israelis feel. However, after watching a documentary last night about a lone soldier from Philadelphia (Michael Levin), who passed away in service in 2004, we felt more connected to the IDF story. In the end, instead of leaving feeling sad, we left empowered. - Jess gordon
Today was definitely one of our hardest days emotionally so far. Walking through the Mount Hertzl cemetery made everything that jews have always talked about so real. Personally it was so sad seeing the gravestones with the such young ages like 19, 20 especially since my sister is twenty years old. Seeing the graves made me think of my own family and how much pain I would be in if i lost her. It then became clear the amount of pain those families feel after losing their loved ones who risked there lives for the country they love. -juliana withee
Today was very different from the other days on this trip. As opposed to fun and active, it was very emotionally heavy. Yad Vashem was like nothing I have seen before. Although I have been to a holocaust museum in the states, this one felt different to me because of where we are and the relationship between this country, the people, and those events. As a group, we were also very touched by the military cemetery on Mount Hertzel. Instead of ending the day on a sad note, we all worked together to make a difference by improving the landscaping around olive trees to keep them healthy. - Jess Glass
Following Yad Vashem, we walked to Mount Hertzl to see the military cemetery and Hertzl’s grave. I think that everybody was extremely moved by getting to see all of the graves of people that were willing to sacrifice their lives for Israel. After seeing the Michael Levin story, all of us were very emotional while seeing his grave and getting to see all of the people there to see him. Overall, although it was one of our most sad and intense experiences yet, I think everybody found something meaningful out of the experience -Aaron Sterling
Today our group encountered our first tough day. We started the day going to Yad Vashem and going deeper into the history of the holocaust. It was a very deep and tough experience for everyone there but it was also very meaningful to better understand how important it is to keep judaism alive as well as the story of the holocaust. Following the museum, we visited Mt. Herzl and toured the grave sites of the many brave soldiers who risked their lives in order to protect Israel and the Jewish people. While it was a very tough day, I think that it made us all appreciate everything we have today and made us realize that we have what we have today due to the fallen soldiers. - Ava Connell
today we visited יד ושם following breakfast at the hotel. we split into 3 groups to have a meaningful and touching experience at יד ושם learning about the difficult times during the holocaust. after יד ושם we visited and payed our respects to the fallen soldiers at mount herzel. we visited herzels grave, michael levin, along with many others buried at mount herzel. we all had a meaningful and touching experience and came back to the hotel to have dinner and watch a beautiful proposal -julia tomases
A couple of days ago we visited the shuk and it was extremely cool to witness a market like that in Israel. I have visited large markets like that in the U.S. but this was much more challenging because the majority of people did not speak English. This made things difficult when ordering food and trying to get passed people when walking through the market. When ordering food I had to compromise and point to the toppings that I wanted on my sandwich and when trying to get past people you had to tap people on the back or slide through them because they had no idea what you were saying or where you wanted to go. This experience was very cool because it was much different than places in the states. It was much more hectic and it was much more difficult to buy things and communicate with people. -Matthew Becker
Yesterday, we went to an outdoor marketplace. I had a great time going up and down the different streets, seeing what the stores had to offer. Every new step brought with it a new store, a new smell, a new person shouting at you to buy their kippot. There was jewelry, shirts, produce, and candy galore. Personally, I got a bag of giant gummy snakes and they were phenomenal. Every so often I'd see an interesting hat, or some cool keychain would catch my eye. Then I'd notice the price, and I'd keep on walking. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I can not wait for Ben Yahuda street. See ya! - Ben Kutz
we started the day off by visiting a museum focusing on manachem begim followed by an art class where we told the story of our israel trip through different colors that corresponded with different things. after we had pizur lunch at the shook. there we learned to bargain and shop like israelis. after we spend some time in the garden park followed by a tour of the knesset. after we returned to the hotel and did a seminar preparing us for yad vashem and learned about michael levin. - David Lyons
Today we were perhaps given more freedom than we ever have been, as the 85 JMI kids, myself included, were told that we could roam the shuk in Jerusalem for over two hours. The food was perhaps not only the best Israeli food I have ever had, but one of the best meals I have eaten in my entire life. I had a falafel pita, and everything about it was perfect. The shuk may have been my favorite two hours this trip because of not only the food, but also the Israeli experience as a whole. It was interesting to see all of the dressed up Jewish men and women around the city. I cannot wait for more free time in shuks, as well as more captivating Israeli experiences. I am having the time of my life here, surrounding by amazing campers and staff. As today is the exact halfway point of our trip, I believe it is on pace to exceed my expectations, and being a life changing experience that I will never forget.
-Ryan Rosenthal, Iced Coffee lover
Yesterday, we had a very fun-filled and interesting schedule, but one thing that really changed my perception of Israel and gave me a new life experience was the shuk, specifically a pastry shop called Marzipan. As I walked in, the smell of fresh dough and burechas overpowered my senses. I decided to buy 12 chocolate rugalech, and I was in for a big suprise. I quickly opened the container and grabbed one out, and popped it into my mouth. It was the best pastry I had ever had in my life, and, the staff knew how good they are, bought some for each person on the trip, to share this wonderful experience with everyone. -Asher Dayanim
The past two days have been full of new experiences. Yesterday we went to the Begin Museum and learned about one of Israel’s most influential prime ministers. Then we did an art activity to summarize the meaning and events of our past few weeks. Later, we ate at the shuk and shopped. Finally, we went to a rose garden and the Knesset. Yesterday was very interesting, we saw two different parts of Israeli society, the government and the general public. Jerusalem has been incredible. -Sam Messitte
SHABBAT SHALOM!
Today was our most mentally taxing day of the past two weeks. First we went to yad vashem which was incredibly moving, as expected. What was more surprising was how touched we were by the military cemetery on Mt Hertzel. Being American, many of us were not expecting to feel the incredible power of the cemetery that many Israelis feel. However, after watching a documentary last night about a lone soldier from Philadelphia (Michael Levin), who passed away in service in 2004, we felt more connected to the IDF story. In the end, instead of leaving feeling sad, we left empowered. - Jess gordon
Today was definitely one of our hardest days emotionally so far. Walking through the Mount Hertzl cemetery made everything that jews have always talked about so real. Personally it was so sad seeing the gravestones with the such young ages like 19, 20 especially since my sister is twenty years old. Seeing the graves made me think of my own family and how much pain I would be in if i lost her. It then became clear the amount of pain those families feel after losing their loved ones who risked there lives for the country they love. -juliana withee
Today was very different from the other days on this trip. As opposed to fun and active, it was very emotionally heavy. Yad Vashem was like nothing I have seen before. Although I have been to a holocaust museum in the states, this one felt different to me because of where we are and the relationship between this country, the people, and those events. As a group, we were also very touched by the military cemetery on Mount Hertzel. Instead of ending the day on a sad note, we all worked together to make a difference by improving the landscaping around olive trees to keep them healthy. - Jess Glass
Following Yad Vashem, we walked to Mount Hertzl to see the military cemetery and Hertzl’s grave. I think that everybody was extremely moved by getting to see all of the graves of people that were willing to sacrifice their lives for Israel. After seeing the Michael Levin story, all of us were very emotional while seeing his grave and getting to see all of the people there to see him. Overall, although it was one of our most sad and intense experiences yet, I think everybody found something meaningful out of the experience -Aaron Sterling
Today our group encountered our first tough day. We started the day going to Yad Vashem and going deeper into the history of the holocaust. It was a very deep and tough experience for everyone there but it was also very meaningful to better understand how important it is to keep judaism alive as well as the story of the holocaust. Following the museum, we visited Mt. Herzl and toured the grave sites of the many brave soldiers who risked their lives in order to protect Israel and the Jewish people. While it was a very tough day, I think that it made us all appreciate everything we have today and made us realize that we have what we have today due to the fallen soldiers. - Ava Connell
today we visited יד ושם following breakfast at the hotel. we split into 3 groups to have a meaningful and touching experience at יד ושם learning about the difficult times during the holocaust. after יד ושם we visited and payed our respects to the fallen soldiers at mount herzel. we visited herzels grave, michael levin, along with many others buried at mount herzel. we all had a meaningful and touching experience and came back to the hotel to have dinner and watch a beautiful proposal -julia tomases
A couple of days ago we visited the shuk and it was extremely cool to witness a market like that in Israel. I have visited large markets like that in the U.S. but this was much more challenging because the majority of people did not speak English. This made things difficult when ordering food and trying to get passed people when walking through the market. When ordering food I had to compromise and point to the toppings that I wanted on my sandwich and when trying to get past people you had to tap people on the back or slide through them because they had no idea what you were saying or where you wanted to go. This experience was very cool because it was much different than places in the states. It was much more hectic and it was much more difficult to buy things and communicate with people. -Matthew Becker
Yesterday, we went to an outdoor marketplace. I had a great time going up and down the different streets, seeing what the stores had to offer. Every new step brought with it a new store, a new smell, a new person shouting at you to buy their kippot. There was jewelry, shirts, produce, and candy galore. Personally, I got a bag of giant gummy snakes and they were phenomenal. Every so often I'd see an interesting hat, or some cool keychain would catch my eye. Then I'd notice the price, and I'd keep on walking. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I can not wait for Ben Yahuda street. See ya! - Ben Kutz
we started the day off by visiting a museum focusing on manachem begim followed by an art class where we told the story of our israel trip through different colors that corresponded with different things. after we had pizur lunch at the shook. there we learned to bargain and shop like israelis. after we spend some time in the garden park followed by a tour of the knesset. after we returned to the hotel and did a seminar preparing us for yad vashem and learned about michael levin. - David Lyons
Today we were perhaps given more freedom than we ever have been, as the 85 JMI kids, myself included, were told that we could roam the shuk in Jerusalem for over two hours. The food was perhaps not only the best Israeli food I have ever had, but one of the best meals I have eaten in my entire life. I had a falafel pita, and everything about it was perfect. The shuk may have been my favorite two hours this trip because of not only the food, but also the Israeli experience as a whole. It was interesting to see all of the dressed up Jewish men and women around the city. I cannot wait for more free time in shuks, as well as more captivating Israeli experiences. I am having the time of my life here, surrounding by amazing campers and staff. As today is the exact halfway point of our trip, I believe it is on pace to exceed my expectations, and being a life changing experience that I will never forget.
-Ryan Rosenthal, Iced Coffee lover
Yesterday, we had a very fun-filled and interesting schedule, but one thing that really changed my perception of Israel and gave me a new life experience was the shuk, specifically a pastry shop called Marzipan. As I walked in, the smell of fresh dough and burechas overpowered my senses. I decided to buy 12 chocolate rugalech, and I was in for a big suprise. I quickly opened the container and grabbed one out, and popped it into my mouth. It was the best pastry I had ever had in my life, and, the staff knew how good they are, bought some for each person on the trip, to share this wonderful experience with everyone. -Asher Dayanim
The past two days have been full of new experiences. Yesterday we went to the Begin Museum and learned about one of Israel’s most influential prime ministers. Then we did an art activity to summarize the meaning and events of our past few weeks. Later, we ate at the shuk and shopped. Finally, we went to a rose garden and the Knesset. Yesterday was very interesting, we saw two different parts of Israeli society, the government and the general public. Jerusalem has been incredible. -Sam Messitte
SHABBAT SHALOM!
Tuesday 7/9
After our first full day in Jerusalem, participants from Ben Stallsmith's mishpachot reflect on the last couple of days.
Dead Sea and ein gedi -Tate F. and Clay W.
Yesterday, we went to the Dead Sea, which was a once in a lifetime experience. Even though it stung a little bit, it made our skin feel incredibly smooth and our bodies feel weightless. We also went to Ein Gedi and visited David’s spring. Something that made this interesting was that David used this spring to hide from King Saul who wanted him dead. It was a smart spot to pick because it was very refreshing to be in fresh water and far away from the king. Overall, it was a very relaxing and refreshing day.
Masada 1 - Alivia T. and Sophia H.
This morning, July 9, 2018, we woke up at 3:00 am to hike masada’s snake trail. As we hiked up, it was incredible watching the sun rising and once we reached the top we saw the sun come up behind the mountains in the distance. At the top we then got a tour and it was insightful and spiritual because it made us feel connected to our Jewish History. Overall our experience was life changing and one we will never forget.
Masada 2 - Anthony G., Harry S. and Drew G.
This morning at 3:30 AM we woke up to climb Masada. We were up there for two hours learning about the artifacts and monuments on top of Masada and enjoying the beautiful view. After the fun (but hot) experience, we got to ride extremely fun cable cars down to our ending location. We then ate a delicious breakfast at the bottom of Masada in a very nice, welcoming and ac’d climate. Our hard work and effort paid off as we got to the bottom and we had a successful feeling for climbing Masada.
Driving into Jerusalem - Anna D., Eli K., and Danielle C.
After climbing Masada, we were exhausted. We were all asleep until our tour guide, Yuval, woke us up. We were about to leave a tunnel and he told us that they found something interesting while building it and it was too our right. We looked to our right and saw nothing but a wall until he told us to look left. What we saw was the city of Jerusalem! When we saw it, we were immediately filled with excitement. This huge, ancient city lay out in front of us, and we couldn’t wait to explore it’s streets, markets, and history. We have spent one day in Jerusalem so far and we can’t wait to see what we do here in the upcoming week!
Survivor - Lappen and Rachel G.
Oh we oh oh we ah....... Welcome to Survivor Israel 2018. This past week we have started our very own season of survivor hosted by myself (Rachel Lappen). I am here with Rachel Galin, who is a current contestant. This week we divided up into 3 separate tribes: Shamesh, Mayim and Eretz. Rachel G says, “Not only is this a fun game to participate in, it brings us closer together as camps as well as providing a fun environment to be competitive. It also creates a good opportunity for campers to step up into leadership roles while planning the challenges.” In the kickoff challenge, we participated in a memory game where the contestants had to memorize random letters and numbers as a team. While it was a tight race, Eretz came in 1st and Mayim came in 2nd, thus sending Shamesh to tribal council. After deliberation, the tribe was split on who to vote out. Matty B and Alex S were set to voting Tate out and Tate and Rachel G wanted Matty B gone. Eli K was the swing vote and eventually made the decision to side with Alex S and Matty B to vote Tate out. Stay tuned for more updates next time on Survivor Israel!
Dead Sea and ein gedi -Tate F. and Clay W.
Yesterday, we went to the Dead Sea, which was a once in a lifetime experience. Even though it stung a little bit, it made our skin feel incredibly smooth and our bodies feel weightless. We also went to Ein Gedi and visited David’s spring. Something that made this interesting was that David used this spring to hide from King Saul who wanted him dead. It was a smart spot to pick because it was very refreshing to be in fresh water and far away from the king. Overall, it was a very relaxing and refreshing day.
Masada 1 - Alivia T. and Sophia H.
This morning, July 9, 2018, we woke up at 3:00 am to hike masada’s snake trail. As we hiked up, it was incredible watching the sun rising and once we reached the top we saw the sun come up behind the mountains in the distance. At the top we then got a tour and it was insightful and spiritual because it made us feel connected to our Jewish History. Overall our experience was life changing and one we will never forget.
Masada 2 - Anthony G., Harry S. and Drew G.
This morning at 3:30 AM we woke up to climb Masada. We were up there for two hours learning about the artifacts and monuments on top of Masada and enjoying the beautiful view. After the fun (but hot) experience, we got to ride extremely fun cable cars down to our ending location. We then ate a delicious breakfast at the bottom of Masada in a very nice, welcoming and ac’d climate. Our hard work and effort paid off as we got to the bottom and we had a successful feeling for climbing Masada.
Driving into Jerusalem - Anna D., Eli K., and Danielle C.
After climbing Masada, we were exhausted. We were all asleep until our tour guide, Yuval, woke us up. We were about to leave a tunnel and he told us that they found something interesting while building it and it was too our right. We looked to our right and saw nothing but a wall until he told us to look left. What we saw was the city of Jerusalem! When we saw it, we were immediately filled with excitement. This huge, ancient city lay out in front of us, and we couldn’t wait to explore it’s streets, markets, and history. We have spent one day in Jerusalem so far and we can’t wait to see what we do here in the upcoming week!
Survivor - Lappen and Rachel G.
Oh we oh oh we ah....... Welcome to Survivor Israel 2018. This past week we have started our very own season of survivor hosted by myself (Rachel Lappen). I am here with Rachel Galin, who is a current contestant. This week we divided up into 3 separate tribes: Shamesh, Mayim and Eretz. Rachel G says, “Not only is this a fun game to participate in, it brings us closer together as camps as well as providing a fun environment to be competitive. It also creates a good opportunity for campers to step up into leadership roles while planning the challenges.” In the kickoff challenge, we participated in a memory game where the contestants had to memorize random letters and numbers as a team. While it was a tight race, Eretz came in 1st and Mayim came in 2nd, thus sending Shamesh to tribal council. After deliberation, the tribe was split on who to vote out. Matty B and Alex S were set to voting Tate out and Tate and Rachel G wanted Matty B gone. Eli K was the swing vote and eventually made the decision to side with Alex S and Matty B to vote Tate out. Stay tuned for more updates next time on Survivor Israel!
Sunday 7/8
Shabbat Shalom! We had a great Shabbat in Eilat and are excited to start a new week as we journey north from the Negev towards Jerusalem. We started our time in Eilat on Wednesday with an exciting night out on the tailet-the beach-front promenade. Thursday morning we learned about the history of Eilat then went to the underwater observatory and got to see some of the marine life in the Red Sea. After a pizur lunch at the mall, we got to enjoy some water sports in the Red Sea riding banana boats and swimming at the beach. We had a belated Fourth of July celebration with a pool party and cookout at Kibbutz Keturah. We started Friday with an early morning hike up Mount Spachot. And when we say early, we mean early! It was a 5 AM wakeup! We then cooled snorkeling in the Red Sea. After another pizur lunch and the option to ice skate at the Ice Mall, we went on a bus tour to see the borders with Jordan and Egypt. We brought in the Shabbat with a relaxing evening in the hotel and a camper-led service. Shabbat morning we participated in another beautiful service led by the Shabbat Committee and then some team building activities. We spent the afternoon at the beach! We ended Shabbat with Havdalah and a boat cruise on the Red Sea! We had a great time in Eilat and we are excited to continue our travels as we journey North to the Dead Sea.
Michelle Shur: My favorite things we did were snorkeling, walking through the city with my friends, and going to the beach. I thought it was fabulous and the views were so pretty. The cruise was amazin as well. I got to chill with my friends and have a great time looking at the city from the distance from the Red Sea.
Alex Ostrich: My favorite thing was the cruise. I thought it was fun when we were dancing all together.
Galia Madfis: Eilat was a ton of fun. The best parts were going to the beach and the cruise at night. I loved trying Aroma for the first time at the beach.
Josh Shankman: Eilat was incredible... and incredibly hot. Going to the beach and snorkeling made it amazing.
Leah Ryzenman: so far this trip israeli fun. i’ve learned eilat about the different camps’ culture sand have gotten to sea lots of cool things like when we went snorkeling.
Nina Jacobs: Eilat was very hot but not unbearable. I really enjoyed the cruise and the beach in general but I'm so excited for the adventures to come.
Isaac Einstein: Eilat was awesome but a little hot. We had a great hike and saw the borders of three different countries at once which was an unforgettable view.
Sarah Schulhof: Eilat was so much fun! It was very hot but we finally got through it. I had so much fun on the cruise, and can’t wait for more fun throughout the trip.
Zach Ives: Eilat was very hot but also a lot of fun. I had so much fun exploring what the city had to offer and hiking for amazing views.
Wes Kaminsky: The hike was fun. The hike wasn't hard but I had a good time with my friends. The view was cool and the pictures I took were very good.
Hayden Ufberg: Shabbat was very relaxing, it was a nice break. After days of amazing but tiring hiking Shabbat was a nice change of pace. We had very campy services Friday night and Saturdaymorning led by us and fun Israeli dancing Friday night.
Logan Blackburn: I had a swell time reminiscing on my travels throughout Eilat with the children which I have come to love. Prancing through the mall with my dearest camp friends has brought me the most joy. Having a magical massage in the middle of the mall whilst my feet were nibbled on by fish made me appreciate the true simplicities of life. Walking around the mall among thousands of others who share my religion ultimately provided me with an experience I know I can find nowhere else in this beautiful world.
Michelle Shur: My favorite things we did were snorkeling, walking through the city with my friends, and going to the beach. I thought it was fabulous and the views were so pretty. The cruise was amazin as well. I got to chill with my friends and have a great time looking at the city from the distance from the Red Sea.
Alex Ostrich: My favorite thing was the cruise. I thought it was fun when we were dancing all together.
Galia Madfis: Eilat was a ton of fun. The best parts were going to the beach and the cruise at night. I loved trying Aroma for the first time at the beach.
Josh Shankman: Eilat was incredible... and incredibly hot. Going to the beach and snorkeling made it amazing.
Leah Ryzenman: so far this trip israeli fun. i’ve learned eilat about the different camps’ culture sand have gotten to sea lots of cool things like when we went snorkeling.
Nina Jacobs: Eilat was very hot but not unbearable. I really enjoyed the cruise and the beach in general but I'm so excited for the adventures to come.
Isaac Einstein: Eilat was awesome but a little hot. We had a great hike and saw the borders of three different countries at once which was an unforgettable view.
Sarah Schulhof: Eilat was so much fun! It was very hot but we finally got through it. I had so much fun on the cruise, and can’t wait for more fun throughout the trip.
Zach Ives: Eilat was very hot but also a lot of fun. I had so much fun exploring what the city had to offer and hiking for amazing views.
Wes Kaminsky: The hike was fun. The hike wasn't hard but I had a good time with my friends. The view was cool and the pictures I took were very good.
Hayden Ufberg: Shabbat was very relaxing, it was a nice break. After days of amazing but tiring hiking Shabbat was a nice change of pace. We had very campy services Friday night and Saturdaymorning led by us and fun Israeli dancing Friday night.
Logan Blackburn: I had a swell time reminiscing on my travels throughout Eilat with the children which I have come to love. Prancing through the mall with my dearest camp friends has brought me the most joy. Having a magical massage in the middle of the mall whilst my feet were nibbled on by fish made me appreciate the true simplicities of life. Walking around the mall among thousands of others who share my religion ultimately provided me with an experience I know I can find nowhere else in this beautiful world.
Thursday 7/5
The JMI group has completed our journey to Eilat. Jacob Ollanik's mishpachot reflects on the past few days.
On Tuesday we went to the Ramat HaNegev AgroResearch center to learn about the innovative techniques for sustainable energy in the desert. After visiting Ben Gurion's tomb and desert home, we went to the Ramon Crater. There, we got to repel down the crater walls. It was scary but we cheered on our peers.
-Morgan O.
On Tuesday I got the opportunity to be a student tour guide for the day. I was in charge of announcing on the bus where we were going and some information about that place. I think it was a really cool experience and it was nice to always know where we were going and what we were doing. It was also very interesting to see everything that goes into making sure we're well prepared for the day. Leading the group was a great learning experience for me and is helping me prepare for my role next year as a counselor.
Alana P.
Tuesday night we went to the Bedouin tents, where some of the Bedouin people live and let us see their lifestyle. While we were there we took part in many Bedouin traditions such as experiencing Bedouin hospitality, eating a Bedouin meal, and in the morning we even went for a camel ride. For us this was a really cool experience an age us a look into one of the many different cultures that makes up the Israeli people.
-Brayden K.
On Wednesday morning we went on a hike to Ein Avdat. We walked through a water spring surrounded by desert cabins and sand dunes, and hiked up the side of the canyon wall to see the views from up there. The hike was a great experience. It allowed us to meet new people on our trip and see amazing views.
-Danny D.
After a two hour bus ride, and a quick ice cream stop, we arrived in Eilat. The city is surrounded by the beautiful Jordanian mountains and lies beside the Red Sea. Last night the group checked into the hotel and had free time at the Eilat promenade. There was a music festival at the pier and lots of stores to shop at. Eilat is an amazing city and I'm so excited to explore more!
-Lilah E.
On Tuesday we went to the Ramat HaNegev AgroResearch center to learn about the innovative techniques for sustainable energy in the desert. After visiting Ben Gurion's tomb and desert home, we went to the Ramon Crater. There, we got to repel down the crater walls. It was scary but we cheered on our peers.
-Morgan O.
On Tuesday I got the opportunity to be a student tour guide for the day. I was in charge of announcing on the bus where we were going and some information about that place. I think it was a really cool experience and it was nice to always know where we were going and what we were doing. It was also very interesting to see everything that goes into making sure we're well prepared for the day. Leading the group was a great learning experience for me and is helping me prepare for my role next year as a counselor.
Alana P.
Tuesday night we went to the Bedouin tents, where some of the Bedouin people live and let us see their lifestyle. While we were there we took part in many Bedouin traditions such as experiencing Bedouin hospitality, eating a Bedouin meal, and in the morning we even went for a camel ride. For us this was a really cool experience an age us a look into one of the many different cultures that makes up the Israeli people.
-Brayden K.
On Wednesday morning we went on a hike to Ein Avdat. We walked through a water spring surrounded by desert cabins and sand dunes, and hiked up the side of the canyon wall to see the views from up there. The hike was a great experience. It allowed us to meet new people on our trip and see amazing views.
-Danny D.
After a two hour bus ride, and a quick ice cream stop, we arrived in Eilat. The city is surrounded by the beautiful Jordanian mountains and lies beside the Red Sea. Last night the group checked into the hotel and had free time at the Eilat promenade. There was a music festival at the pier and lots of stores to shop at. Eilat is an amazing city and I'm so excited to explore more!
-Lilah E.
Tuesday 7/3
As we continue our journey south, Grant Kaufman's mishpacha reflects on our past few days.
On Sunday, we packed up our things and left Modi’in and headed toward the site of David and Goliath’s famous battle. There, we listened to stories of the battle and took in the beautiful viewpoint.
After, we headed to an archeological dig site where we explored caves and dug up ancient pottery and bones. We heard stories and saw artifacts dating all the way back to the story of Hanukkah.
After our exciting morning we headed to the Ethiopian Jewish community in Kiryat Gat, where we ate some delicious lunch and got a tour of the beautiful grounds and farmland. The stories and people were very interesting, opening our eyes to another part of Judaism. As we made our way to the kibbutz we took a surprise stop at a local supermarket to load up on allergy conscious Israeli snacks. We ended our day with our mishpachot checking in about our day and a participating in a fun team building activity. We can’t wait to see what else Israel has to offer and are so excited to share more!
-Sophia Inbar, Alex Shapiro, Gabby Engelman and Amy Lewandowski
Monday morning began with a six mile bike ride at Be'eri that got us sweating. Our tourguide provided us with history of the area and we were able to see over fields into Gaza city and the bodies of water nearby. Next, we headed to the salad trail which is a fascinating and delicious experience. We met some very interesting people with thought provoking stories and listened to their first hand experiences of living near the Gaza border.
Our next stop was Sderot, where we visited a fortified playground, which doubles as a bomb shelter due to the location of the city. Next, we went to a moshav, or community, and listened to a lecture about the thriving community so close to the Gaza border. Here we were taken to a view point where we could see the wall along the Gaza boarder. Our next activity allowed for us to get a closer look at this wall where we met the founder of Seeds for Peace. She is an artist who is helping to make a scary, bland wall beautiful and less intimidating in the hope for peace. She channels fear to make art and inspire civilians on both sides of the boarder. We participated in a peace art project at the wall and wrote our wishes for peace to leave for the community. We closed our day with a night time pool party where we relaxed and cooled off after such a physically and mentally taxing day.
- Sophia Inbar and Jess Gordon
On Sunday, we packed up our things and left Modi’in and headed toward the site of David and Goliath’s famous battle. There, we listened to stories of the battle and took in the beautiful viewpoint.
After, we headed to an archeological dig site where we explored caves and dug up ancient pottery and bones. We heard stories and saw artifacts dating all the way back to the story of Hanukkah.
After our exciting morning we headed to the Ethiopian Jewish community in Kiryat Gat, where we ate some delicious lunch and got a tour of the beautiful grounds and farmland. The stories and people were very interesting, opening our eyes to another part of Judaism. As we made our way to the kibbutz we took a surprise stop at a local supermarket to load up on allergy conscious Israeli snacks. We ended our day with our mishpachot checking in about our day and a participating in a fun team building activity. We can’t wait to see what else Israel has to offer and are so excited to share more!
-Sophia Inbar, Alex Shapiro, Gabby Engelman and Amy Lewandowski
Monday morning began with a six mile bike ride at Be'eri that got us sweating. Our tourguide provided us with history of the area and we were able to see over fields into Gaza city and the bodies of water nearby. Next, we headed to the salad trail which is a fascinating and delicious experience. We met some very interesting people with thought provoking stories and listened to their first hand experiences of living near the Gaza border.
Our next stop was Sderot, where we visited a fortified playground, which doubles as a bomb shelter due to the location of the city. Next, we went to a moshav, or community, and listened to a lecture about the thriving community so close to the Gaza border. Here we were taken to a view point where we could see the wall along the Gaza boarder. Our next activity allowed for us to get a closer look at this wall where we met the founder of Seeds for Peace. She is an artist who is helping to make a scary, bland wall beautiful and less intimidating in the hope for peace. She channels fear to make art and inspire civilians on both sides of the boarder. We participated in a peace art project at the wall and wrote our wishes for peace to leave for the community. We closed our day with a night time pool party where we relaxed and cooled off after such a physically and mentally taxing day.
- Sophia Inbar and Jess Gordon
Sunday 7/1
As our first Shabbat spent together in Israel has come to a close, we want to share with you some reflections from teens in staff member Eva Bogomolny’s mishpacha.
A little taste of how everyone’s feeling:
Sophie F. is feeling connectedness
Lexi G. thinks that the view is pretty
Allie F. Is feeling excited
Ann S. Is ecstatic to be here
Shira R. Is trying new foods
Eli K. Is taking it all in
Max N. Is happy to be here
Rafi EF. Is enjoying it a lot
Sammy L. Is optimistic
Jacob H. Is mesmerized
Max S. Is looking forward to new experiences
Zoe I. Is feeling enthused
Rafi EF.
Just two days ago we arrived in Israel after an exhausting, but enjoyable flight. Pinemere arrived earlier than some groups and we were all excited to go to the beach in Tel Aviv. We started our morning touring the ancient port of Jafa and then enjoyed a delicious lunch at Dr. Shakshuka before heading to the beach. It was a very hot day, but the water was refreshing and we all stayed in the water for a while. It was great having time to relax in Israel after the long flight, and everyone really enjoyed it!
Sophie F.
Shabbat services Friday night truly felt magical. Four pinemere girls and boys came up with icebreaker activities such as speed dating which were a perfect way to get to know each other in a comfortable way. Between each prayer, we did some more bonding activities to help bring the group together. By the end of the night, I felt very connected to everyone.
Allie F.
When we (Camp Wise) first got off the plane we arrived at the Macabim Guest House, where we have been staying, and were greeted by kids from the other camps. The flight was very long, but luckily most of us slept so it passed the time much faster. After all of our travel, we finally arrived at our accommodations and people started interacting and meeting new friends from all of the different camps. I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks will bring.
Ann S.
On Saturday morning we all woke up with bright spirits, all though some of us were still pretty tired. After breakfast, we enjoyed a nice poolside service followed by a dip in the pool. Following the pool, we met on the field at the guest house and played some fun icebreaker games. Not long after, we bonded through team building, working our way through different activities. Then we had free time; some took naps and others talked, played cards and other games. Neil Lazarus spoke to us about the current issues in Israel, and the “seminar” was very fun and entertaining. Dinner was next, thank goodness cause we were all pretty hungry. We met with our “mishpachah” or family group and discussed plans for the day to come and then played some games. A relaxing havdallah service ending the evening as we all prepare for what’s to come. Throughout the day, we all made more friendships with kids from other camps, as well as strengthened those with people we already knew. We are all extremely excited for everything coming up, as our first days could not have gone better! Shabbat was the perfect way to kick off an unforgettable, life changing trip! Shabbat shalom from the 2018 Israel Leadership Team!!
A little taste of how everyone’s feeling:
Sophie F. is feeling connectedness
Lexi G. thinks that the view is pretty
Allie F. Is feeling excited
Ann S. Is ecstatic to be here
Shira R. Is trying new foods
Eli K. Is taking it all in
Max N. Is happy to be here
Rafi EF. Is enjoying it a lot
Sammy L. Is optimistic
Jacob H. Is mesmerized
Max S. Is looking forward to new experiences
Zoe I. Is feeling enthused
Rafi EF.
Just two days ago we arrived in Israel after an exhausting, but enjoyable flight. Pinemere arrived earlier than some groups and we were all excited to go to the beach in Tel Aviv. We started our morning touring the ancient port of Jafa and then enjoyed a delicious lunch at Dr. Shakshuka before heading to the beach. It was a very hot day, but the water was refreshing and we all stayed in the water for a while. It was great having time to relax in Israel after the long flight, and everyone really enjoyed it!
Sophie F.
Shabbat services Friday night truly felt magical. Four pinemere girls and boys came up with icebreaker activities such as speed dating which were a perfect way to get to know each other in a comfortable way. Between each prayer, we did some more bonding activities to help bring the group together. By the end of the night, I felt very connected to everyone.
Allie F.
When we (Camp Wise) first got off the plane we arrived at the Macabim Guest House, where we have been staying, and were greeted by kids from the other camps. The flight was very long, but luckily most of us slept so it passed the time much faster. After all of our travel, we finally arrived at our accommodations and people started interacting and meeting new friends from all of the different camps. I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks will bring.
Ann S.
On Saturday morning we all woke up with bright spirits, all though some of us were still pretty tired. After breakfast, we enjoyed a nice poolside service followed by a dip in the pool. Following the pool, we met on the field at the guest house and played some fun icebreaker games. Not long after, we bonded through team building, working our way through different activities. Then we had free time; some took naps and others talked, played cards and other games. Neil Lazarus spoke to us about the current issues in Israel, and the “seminar” was very fun and entertaining. Dinner was next, thank goodness cause we were all pretty hungry. We met with our “mishpachah” or family group and discussed plans for the day to come and then played some games. A relaxing havdallah service ending the evening as we all prepare for what’s to come. Throughout the day, we all made more friendships with kids from other camps, as well as strengthened those with people we already knew. We are all extremely excited for everything coming up, as our first days could not have gone better! Shabbat was the perfect way to kick off an unforgettable, life changing trip! Shabbat shalom from the 2018 Israel Leadership Team!!
6/29Our first day in Israel has been a great success! So far, we've toured Jaffa Port and spent some time at the beach while waiting for the other camps to arrive. Tonight we will welcome in shabbat with all four camps, and will have a great relaxing day together. To honor Shabbat, we won't be posting, but look out for our next post on Sunday!
|