The ultimate toe-tingling, stomach-turning, heart-racing factor was that I’d be able to divulge myself to into my heritage...

When I first decided to apply to the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, I sat down and made a list of pros and cons to up and going across the world in the middle of my junior year. The cons list only had three things: one - what if I get behind, two - what if I don’t make any friends, and three- I’m going to have to be on a plane for 11 hours. But the pros list almost came alive off the paper. The ultimate toe-tingling, stomach-turning, heart-racing factor was that I’d be able to divulge myself to into my heritage-- what makes me, well, me. Developing a greater sense of who I am, where I come from, and how I connect to Judaism and it’s home has been my goal ever since.

Now I’ve been living and breathing my history for around a week, and although I’ve realized my goal will take longer than 11 days to fulfill, I know I’m already on the right path. We just finished our first unit, in which we also went on two separate Tiyul trips, where I was able to understand, analyze, and experience the places and lessons that began Judaism. From class time and our trips, I have accepted apart of who I am, of being Jewish, is struggling. No person is perfect or all good and righteous-- it’s not possible. What being here, at Alexander Muss High School, has showed me though is what’s important: that somehow we prevail. This single life-altering lesson I’ve had the chance to dissect in class, on Tiyul, and with my february session group, has already strengthened my identification with my jewish heritage.

I feel that here in Israel, I’ve began an adventure of discovery, excitement, and accomplishments. I cannot wait for what’s to come in the next six weeks, and know I will leave the trip with a deeper understanding of my jewish identity, past, and future.