The program has now ended and we have been asked to look upon our past blog that listed our goals for the end of the semester. My goals included learning Hebrew, taking lots of photos and staying in touch with friends from HSI. I believe that I have met my goals.

From the day I returned to my motherland, until the last day on campus when I watched my home fly by before my eyes. The beginning was also an end and the end was also a beginning. The moment I got off the plane, the person I was before ended; and as I leave, it is the beginning of a new life. The experiences I had will lead me into the future as a Jew and as an adult who will be expected to contribute to society. The whole session I worked towards a couple goals the whole time. I now look back and see how well I succeeded as an individual in coming out of the program with more than a few fond memories.

The semester is coming to an end and I’m pretty sad about it. This has been the most amazing experience and I’m so happy I came to HSI. My first goal at the begging was to make new friends. That goal was met. I’ve made the bestest friends and I’m so sad I’m leaving them. My friends here are practically family. My second goal was to get good grades. I have met that goal. I worked hard here and it payed off.

After looking back on the goals that I created at the beginning of the semester, I can confidently say that I accomplished all of them. I kept straight A’s in all my classes, I made a lot of close friends, I stepped out of my comfort zone and actually enjoyed hiking, and so much more.

Last night in my hotel room, I decided to write a letter to my grandma Judith who passed away before I was born, two months after my mom returned from HSI. Putting that letter in the wall was the closest I’ve ever felt to her, and I’m so incredibly grateful to have experienced that feeling. All of these Tanakh verses that can seem so far away have led me to this very spot in my life.

This morning, I finished packing the last of my bags. The whole experience was surreal to me; it still feels like I just got here. When I first arrived on campus, I had myriad expectations for the coming semester. Happily, I met most of my goals without having to put in any special effort.

This picture is of the Old City of Jerusalem built into what it is during the times of Kings David & Solomon. We learned about the history of modern Israel and the song Yerushalayim Shel Zahav.

Why study abroad? That’s a question I contemplated for a while before finally deciding on a whim to apply for AMHSI. Now that I have truly experienced school in a whole new county, I can’t imagine a single reason not to drop everything and go abroad.

Even though teens decide to come and study abroad for many different reasons, I think these 3 reasons best fit. Traveling/studying abroad can connect you to the culture/heritage in the land you’re in, you can meet new people/find new interests, and you have a sense of independence.

One of my favorite stories of tikkun olam involves one of the greatest rabbis of the middle ages, Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg. Rabbi Meir lived in the area of Ashkenaz (Franco-Germany) during a dark period of persecutions during the 13th century. At last he found life as a Jew untenable there, and he uprooted his family to attempt the long and dangerous journey to the Land of Israel. He did not make it far. Rabbi Meir was recognized by an apostate Jew was traveling with a church official. Denounced and arrested, he was held in a formidable fortress.

The light from the Channukah candles serves to remind those who see it of the miracle that occurred during the 2nd Temple period when the Macabees fought and defeated the Seleucid Greek Empire. The smaller and weaker Macabee forces defeated the mighty and well-armed Seleucid soldiers. Upon entering the Beit Hamikdash/Temple in Jerusalem, the Jews cleaned up the Temple and attempted to reinstate the Temple service. They found only one cruse of oil to light the Menorah, enough for just one day. It would take 8 days to produce pure oil under the watch of the Kohen Gadol/High Priest. As the story continues, Gd performed a miracle and the single cruse of oil lasted for eight days.

At the City of David, as I lead my students down a dark underground passageway through the streets of ancient Jerusalem, we often stop to marvel at the fact that the lessons of our forefathers are as relevant today as ever. One of the most important messages that can be taken away from this visit, one that is undoubtedly on all of our minds as November rolls around, is the importance of giving thanks.

About 2,500 years ago the leaders of the Jewish community stood in Jerusalem, waiting anxiously for Ezra the scribe to explain to them the words of the Torah. The Torah was complicated, long, and not every Jew had the ability to read. The result was confusion, a misunderstanding of Judaism, and an un-united Jewish community.

As summer turns to fall and we prepare for the new school year at Alexander Muss High School in Israel, my mind always turns to lesson planning and my goals for the new year. One of the first questions I ask my students the very first day is: “Where should we begin our study of Jewish history?” Does Judaism start with creation? With Abraham? With Moses and the 10 commandments? All of these answers are valid. I choose to start my year with Abraham.

The reason I decided to study abroad was that I thought it would be extremely fun to travel halfway across the globe. Even though it’s sad leaving your friends and family I knew it was a sacrifice I was willing to make in order to educate myself on Judaism and continue my general studies in Israel. I found out about this program through my Jewish summer camp, someone came and talked about AMHSI and they were so passionate about it and made it sound so fun so then I went home and started the paperwork by myself and filled my mom in at the last moment so she couldn’t say no.

Studying abroad is an adventure of self-responsibility. Every aspect of the experience requires you to be responsible for yourself because you are given a lot of freedom. Basic routine things like studying, brushing your teeth, and getting enough to eat are entirely up to you because when you’re studying abroad your parents aren’t there to remind you to do even these basic tasks. It is really easy to not study. Deadlines can easily be forgotten or ignored so you have to keep on top of all of your classes without reminders. Also, all of your friends are just outside the door hanging out and watching TV and it takes a lot of willpower to not go fishing for distraction. Beyond that, people here often study out in the Moadon (common room) where there are many distractions. I personally have a hard time focusing when there are conversations and the TV around me so I have to find a quiet place and fight the urge to go join my friends. This was something I learned very quickly and now, I know myself better.

Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime experience. Here at AMHSI, we have well informed and experienced guides who know all the best sites to visit, when the best times to go are, and endless information about each site. You won’t have half as good as an experience if you go by yourself because you don’t have the proper knowledge and guidance to make the best out of your time in Israel.

Being in Israel for about 3 ½ months in a study abroad program has changed my views on school in general. School in Israel isn’t like normal school. To start off, your classes are spread out in the day so you have a lot of breaks. Sometimes it doesn’t even feel lie a school day. We also have tiyuls. Tiyuls are field trips that we go on and each tiyul is following what we’re learning. We go to areas where history happened and learn. Being abroad takes big responsibility. You aren’t living with you’re parents to tell you what to do and what not to do so you have to learn how to make decisions for yourself.

My generation is fortunate to live in an era when travel is convenient and much more affordable. Nowadays, especially in relatively privileged communities, it is not uncommon for teenagers to go on vacation with their families and see vast swaths of the world. As pleasant as these trips may be, they are seldom long enough to offer immersion in local culture.

There were many factors that contributed to me wanting to study abroad. First of all, I knew it was going to make me way more independent on so many levels. I had been away from home before when I was in sleep away camp but I didn’t have to be responsible for myself and my grades. Knowing that I knew that coming here would give me a preview of what college would be like.