The sun is setting on my fifth day in Israel as I write this blogpost, and its seemingly impossible to me that time has gone by at a breakneck pace (not to mention how easily I overcame jet lag). Even at night when we arrived, tired and beat up by the difficult 12 hour flight, I somehow managed to make 29 different friends prior to any formal introduction, and dodge a flurry of Israelis in the cafeteria- maneuvers that would have made even Muhammad Ali scout me for boxing. Regarding the rooming, I am lucky to be situated with three cheerful and certainly humorous boys of my age, however I was unfortunate enough to get the top bunk. No, I am not afraid of heights, but I find it annoying to both change the sheets on the mattress and get down from bed at an elevated level in general. But, I digress. In addition, contrary to what negative comments and reviews I have heard about the food on the program, the food, in my humble opinion, is excellent. Perhaps the people who I talked to just weren’t expecting what Israeli food would taste like…

The most interesting aspect of the trip thus far, however, was the teacher that I was assigned to for the Muss-exclusive course on the immersive and awing history of the Jewish people. Yossi Katz, my instructor is truly one of a kind- in addition to once being a leader of a Jewish youth group in Philadelphia (my home town) and national Israeli boxing champion, he also is a Spice Girls Aficionado and South Park fan boy. But more than anything, the program he passionately and expertly teaches is everything I had imagined it would be and more. With just the experience of our first trip to Tel Gezer (an archaeological site in the rolling hills of the Shfela) alone, I further understand the magic and importance of the home of my people.

I cannot say that I do not miss my family; I have a mother, father, sister, and adorable dog that are desperately waiting my arrival home two months from now. That being said, this trip has given me a taste of independence the likes of which I have never experienced before (albeit timing restrictions from homework do get in the way). Perhaps the most notable exhibition of this freedom is when my friends and I went into town at night and walked around, unaccompanied by an adult. All we were told to do was get back by 9:30 and not do anything we weren’t supposed to (for more information, see the program guidelines and contract).

At any rate, there is still work to be done and hygiene to be kept, but neither detract in any way from a program that I only found out about a couple months ago while browsing through my local newspaper. With all that has happened in the past 5 days, I am certain that everyday from this point on, the sun will once again rise.