This photo was taken at a kibbutz while we were learning about the history of conflict in the Golan.

This photo was taken at a kibbutz while we were learning about the history of conflict in the Golan. This was maybe my favorite tiyul. Going on the hike the next day was such a great experience that reminded me of how beautiful Eretz Israel can be. I really admire the north due to its incredible beauty. I plan to spend time in Israel after I graduate high school and I am considering working on a kibbutz and if I did I think I would want to work on one of the agricultural Kibbutzim in the Golan. I admire as well the history of Israelis here who had the determination to settle and work the land, which reminded me of labor Zionism. I also was inspired by how Israelis fought to protect this land. At the same time when we looked into Syria I was deeply disturbed. It wasn’t that I felt unsafe, it really struck me that just on the other side of the border people suffer. Of course this isn’t just in the north, on the other side of the border in Gaza people are also living in abject poverty and fear. It makes me appreciate Israel in a new light, because with the same land as Syrians more or less, the Jews have banded together and thrives to create one of the most advanced countries in the world. This is one of the many reasons I love Israel. - Ben