Hello! I’m a little bit more than halfway done with the Fall Semester at this point, and have been thoroughly enjoying it so far! We just finished Yam le Yam (a four-day hike from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee, or Kinneret), and are now getting ready to fly to Poland. As preparation, we studied American Judaism all day yesterday and on Wednesday we are going to be studying the Holocaust all day, in order to have a background for Poland. We are also going to be meeting every day in the moadon (family room) to learn the songs we are going to sing while in Poland. I think it’s really impressive the amount of time our teachers and madrichim are putting into preparation for Poland, and that it really shows their commitment. As you can probably tell, I am seriously anticipating this trip, but we have done so many other amazing things as well so far.

For instance, I brought up Yam le Yam, a four-day hike our group did. I really, really, really enjoyed that hike, and I believe it was probably the best tiyul thus far. The hike gave me a chance to reconnect with nature, and take a mental break from the craziness of life on campus. I absolutely love being outside, whether that means just sitting and watching the world, camping, climbing a tree, going for a swim, or just taking a walk, it is always refreshing to step outdoors and experience the natural world. The hike also gave me a chance to bond even further with all the other kids on the trip. There were many activities integrate into the program that promoted building stronger relationships with the people around you. We had a bonfire, went stargazing, and paired off with people to answer questions about ourselves. Additionally, we were moving all day long, which was wonderful. I got to explore with my friends and was constantly moving throughout the day. Personally, I love physical activity and it made my days that much better.

We go on so many tiyulim while on this program, and it is honestly phenomenal. I have gotten to see so many things I never thought I would see and learn so many things I never thought I would learn. Going to the places we are learning about makes class so much more engaging and ensures that everyone comes eager to learn.  I am so thankful for all the things I have been able to see and do as a result of this program.