Hello everyone! I have just come back from a tiyul called Yam le Yam where we hike from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Galilee or the Kinneret in Hebrew.  It was an absolutely amazing experience and would recommend for anyone to go try it.

Before we started our hike, Aubrey and Doni held a little ceremony and lesson for us at a beach facing the Mediterranean.  The view of the surf crashing down on the jetty was an amazing sight.  They then filled a little bottle of the sea water and gave it to someone to hold.  They described how many people do this hike take water from one sea and pour it out into the other as a symbolic way of ending the hike.  Doni recommended that all of us should carry the water at some point throughout the entire trip.  We then started our hike.  The landscape was beautiful and full of trees and foliage.  The ground seemed an odd desert texture even though giant pine trees erected themselves out of the ground.  We also hiked over mountains and even got to see Safed, the holy city of the air.  Even more than the hike being physically demanding, it was emotionally as well.  Throughout Yam le Yam, I went through a deep self re-evaluation, questioning myself about my habits, personality, and how I carry out different actions.  This led to more of an understanding with myself and ultimately opened up to changing and improving.  I also opened up to people about struggles and problems that I was having even though I never do.

As we were getting closer and closer to the Kinneret at the end of the hike, the madrichim started to notice and understand the struggle of identity that I was going through.  At the end of the hike, I was offered to pour out the seawater we kept in the small bottle to reward me of my endeavor.  It felt amazing to jump into the chilly water with nothing but our shorts on.  We didn’t even shower during the four days we hiked.  It was quite a relief to shed the clothes and socks that had become almost solidified to my skin.  After, we got out to have falafel and lunch.  It was quite rewarding after the long hike we all endured.  It was quite a relief to come back to campus after and have a hot shower, a big convenience that many people take for gratitude.