Hello! I am nearing the halfway point of my time here in Israel and so far I have had a great time. I have made so many friends and I truly feel like the other kids here are my family. Life on campus is nonstop, which has enabled us to see so many amazing parts of Israel in our time here so far. There are even bigger things coming up soon. In two days the group is heading out to start a hike known as Yam Le Yam, or Sea to Sea, and it is supposed to be one of the best experiences on the trip. I personally am so excited to get started on the hike, and I truly believe it is going to be a once in a lifetime experience. On top of that, I will be able to share the experience with all of my friends. There are so many new opportunities here, so many new things I get to do and try. For example, my group also gets to go to Poland for a week, and learn about the Holocaust at the place where it happened. We also get to participate in a program known as Gadna, which is essentially a glimpse at what army life is like in Israel. Being presented with so many opportunities really makes me appreciate how special this country is. There are so many different thing I get to experience here that I would never get to experience in the States.

Judaism is really special to me, so one of the most magical and unique parts of this country is the religious aspects of it. One of the most special experiences I have had while in Israel so far is something that would only ever happen here. It was Erev Yom Kippur and I was walking back from Shul with my friends. The streets were COMPLETELY empty, and there was not a single car anywhere in sight. We stayed in Jerusalem and were walking down a major road, but instead of seeing typical Jerusalem traffic, the street was flooded with Jews dressed in white, just walking around. We sat in a circle in the middle of the street with a ton of strangers and sang for about an hour straight without being disturbed by a single car. It was very special and really made me recognize how strong the Jewish community is. I truly felt like a part of the land, and realize that this is something that would never, ever happen in America.

I believe Israel is truly one of the most beautiful places on the face of this planet. It is so unlike anything else you will ever see in your life, and you can feel energy radiating from every inch of the country. I’m so excited to spend another eleven weeks here with my new family!