After living in Israel for 5 weeks, I have begun to understand the cultural quirks of this land. With such a distinctive cultural identity which vastly differs from the one I am accustomed to, there comes a need for adaptation. In my time at AMHSI, I have created my own ways of accepting the intricacies of Israeli culture. In this blog, I hope to give a little bit of insight into my experience in Israel and give advice on how to survive the trip for anyone considering participating.

To begin, no matter how long you are in Israel for, make sure to make it your home. Put up decorations in your dorm. Although simple, this one menial task brings life into your living space. I personally have a blue mandala tapestry in my room along with posters and signs. As a result of just having these decorations, a homely feeling permeates the room. It is no longer the standard room which all students have – it is my room. This mentality is what allows me to live in my new home comfortably and in an immersed manner. Part of making Israel your home is also being receptive of its culture and trying to understand its customs and trends. For example, try to broaden your palate. Although it might be tempting to order Domino’s Pizza from town every night, try a local falafel and shawarma place instead. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you for it. Another thing which will help you to embrace Israeli living is picking up a little Hebrew.   Now, this doesn’t mean you have to study verb conjugation for hours, but rather just actively listen to native Hebrew speakers from time to time and learn simple, essential phrases. All in all, try to immerse yourself in Israeli culture and try to live the life of an Israeli. As a result, you will be able to broaden your mindset and glimpse a fraction of the cultural diversity which the world has to offer.

On a practical note, life on campus is not a vacation. You do have to put in a considerable amount of effort in order to maintain stability here, but once you figure out that balance, it makes this experience even more worth it. In attempt to find that middle ground, I have found a specific set of strategies which work for me. In the mornings, skipping breakfast in the חדר אוכל (dining room) and keeping a box of cereal in your room instead saves time, giving you more opportunity to sleep and/or do work. Even those few extra minutes in the morning make a huge impact on the rest of your day. Also, utilize the long bus rides we go on during tiyulim as a time to catch up on sleep or finish last minute homework. Separately, when at AMHSI, it is a great time for you to work on your time management skills. You have almost absolute freedom here, aside from following the basic rules of the school and listening to your madrichim. With that freedom comes a greater possibility for procrastination, goofing off with friends, and overall ignorance of your work. I understand how this may be tempting, but I also urge you to make a serious commitment to studying and doing your work thoroughly. You will feel so accomplished with yourself if you do so. That feeling of success and that feeling of pride in your own worth ethic which is obtained through studying is so rewarding and will continue to be a motivator for you in future endeavors.

Furthermore, my Alexander Muss High School in Israel trip has been one of the most unique and enjoyable experiences I have ever had. Between the Dead Sea, the Israeli markets, the fun activities, the friendships, and the in-depth explorations of very serious topics, each distinctive aspect of life at school here offers something new. The magic of AMHSI is that all of these different components are able to blend together in such harmony as to create a symphony of happiness, knowledge and connection. My last piece of advice to making the best of this trip is to really internalize everything you will learn. I promise that if you do this with no reserve, open-mindedly observing the diversity and complexity of both your peers and of modern Judaism, then your trip will be a truly transformative, poignant experience which you will carry with you for the rest of your life.