This week brings us to our halfway mark, we have been here for a little more than two months and we have a little less than two months less. Last blog post I was preparing for Yam Le Yam a four-day hike from sea to sea. It was our longest two and it was really cool because of how proud we were when we finished that Friday afternoon.

On October 3rd we went to the Bar Kochba caves at first. The caves were used as storage and hiding for the Jews. It’s also where the Bar Kochba revolt started against the Romans. After the caves, we went to a Roman theatre where they would have Jews fight and almost always lose. It made us think of if a family member of yours was going to die, would you go watch? I said yes because no matter how sad it is I always want to be with my family in their final moments. I really liked that Tiyul because it made me think about the struggle as a Jew at that time and how hard it was to live because you needed to be basically hidden.

I love our Tiyuls because we can learn about something and then we actually go to the place and get a real feel for the real situation. For example, we learned about King Herod for a few days and we talked a bit about his vacation home called Masada and then we hiked Masada. We learned literally every single fact about Herod, architecture, the living status there and how it got conquered. I have been to Masada before but this was the coolest experience where I learned the most.

In a week we leave for Poland. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. It’s going to be such a life-changing experience and super meaningful all the same time. I have loved all my tiyuls and my first two months and I hope that carries onto the next two.