I am in week one of AMHSI semester, unpacking took a while because of course us being boys like to goof around and deciding which bed we are gonna sleep in for the next four months. Choosing our closets to get them perfectly right next to our rooms so it’s close by. What each shelves should hold and what would be the perfect temp for our room to escape the Israeli summer heat. We met our Jewish studies teachers that make Jewish studies more fun and interesting and very fascinating and show us different way of looking at interpretations, and are core classes. I like how small the classrooms are so that if you need help with the topic you are learning on and you also get to have a closer connection with the teacher so class is more fun.

On Wednesday we went to Tel Gezer where we saw 28 different layers on civilizations at Tel Gezer. we saw a guard tower,  the entrance to the city, their water source and the ritual sanctuary. Learned the agriculture in Tel Gezer and the four D’s (Drink, Dine, Drive and Defense) and the seven different crops that are grown there which are pomegranates, grapes, olives, figs , dates, wheat, and barley. The one thing that I thought was the most fascinating thing my teacher said was that only two of the 28 civilizations were destroyed. Our teacher told us stories on Abraham’s journey in the beginning and how if he was to be the leader on a new religion it would be different without any strange and ridiculous traditions.

My first goal is to be able to really capture what it truly means to be Jewish in Israel and experience things that one can only do in a program like this. I think that AMHSI is a good experience for me because it’s not like a normal school where you learn a subject that is halfway around the world, it’s an hour drive away. For instance say one day we will learn what happened to the first Beit Hamikdash and how it was destroyed and the next day actually go and visit what we just learned the day before it really is an amazing experience and I’m saying this in just the first week. My second goal i to know all the stores in Hod Hasharon where I can buy Israeli foods and treats like chocolate milk in a plastic bag, you never see that where I live, or have good hummus and shawarma. Me and my friends found a good schnitzel place ten minutes from us so we go there sometimes to have dinner. 

Those are my goals so far and I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog about my time so far here in Israel and hopefully for more fun experiences with my friends.