This week’s blog is about my “living classroom.” As we learn about events in Jewish history, starting from 2000 BCE up until 1967, we get to travel to the sites all over Israel to have a lesson about it. Being able to learn about Jewish history and literally stand where it happened is something that I could never imagine doing. Sitting on top of Masada, going through Hezekiah’s tunnel, or walking the streets of Tzfat, our classroom becomes the whole state of Israel. We look at artifacts; architecture and terrace farming that still remain today. We see how the Israel people struggled yet prospered through the hard times. Our teacher, Yossi Katz, brings the classroom to life by including every detail and fact that happens during that time period. He has us recreate the scenarios and act like we are part of the Jewish history. Yossi will have us hike up a mountain for an hour and a half to show us the most amazing views and sites that leave us all speechless. He takes us to all types of synagogues and services that give us a true understanding of what being Jewish in Israel is like.   We have visited several graves of important people; Rochelle the Poet, The Ari, and the 20 children who passed away during a school attack. This school attack reminds me of the horrific Florida school shooting that just recently happened.

As I told people about my trip to Israel, they asked me “aren’t you scared,” and “isn’t it so dangerous there? You are going to get killed.” And now hearing about the shooting in the states, it isn’t Israel that is unsafe. I feel so safe and secure here on our trips, and I think it helps us students feel comfortable and interested in learning about Israel. It shows that shootings can happen all throughout history, and they still happen today. Our teacher Yossi reminds us that we ARE part of Jewish history, and that we are the creators of the future. We have the power to further strengthen Israel and build Israel up. He will never try to make us move to Israel, but he does encourage it. He shows us ways to help Israel from the states. He helps us really live through the history of Israel and explore our own selves. Having the advantage of Israel in our hands is really amazing. This experience is incredible to have the opportunity to learn about Israel in Israel and stand where heroes like Dove Gruner and his peers were once hanged. Having Israel as my living classroom is an experience that I will never forget.