My Muss Experience- Adi Leibovici

The semester is coming to an end and I am reflecting on how these past 4 months have created such a strong impact on me. I have learned, seen, and experienced so much in such a small amount of time. The Israeli studies classes have helped me learn about my Jewish history and feel more connected to my roots. The tiyuls we go on let me see Israel for its natural beauty and feel connected to the land that we walked through.

One of my favorite tiyuls was on the second day of the Golan Heights trip on November 16, which was the Jilabun waterfall hike. The view was incredible and we got to go in the freezing cold water which felt so refreshing. I talked with people I hadn’t talked with before and got to know them better and was able to call them my friends.

I have visited so many places in Israel that I feel like I know the land better than my family that lives there. It’s not just the things we do and learn that made this semester so special but also the people there. Throughout every experience, you hold a bond with every person there and you make friends that can last a lifetime. This program has helped me learn about myself and has opened me up to so many opportunities and taught me life lessons that I will keep with me forever. One life lesson I learned was how to live with other people, and to be respectful of other people’s personal space. Another lesson I learned was to always challenge yourself even when something seems impossible. Going on a 4-day hike in nature without showering seemed so hard to me but I ended up loving it and was one of my favorite trips. I am so thankful that I decided to join this semester and couldn’t have asked for different people to be with these past 4 months. I plan on introducing and inviting other people to apply to this program to help strengthen the Jewish community and give other high schoolers an experience of a lifetime.