It is crazy to think that in two weeks, I will be waking up in Israel. It still feels unreal, but I am beyond excited. This summer, I traveled to Israel for the very first time, and I fell in love with the country. I will never forget the exact moment that Israel won my heart. It was my free weekend, and I was staying with my cousin in Tel Aviv. It was the middle of July, so of course we headed straight to the beach. The sea was a tranquil blue and the sand was so warm, but I couldn’t get over how cute the rainbow umbrellas lining the beach were. My cousin saw me staring and explained that the umbrellas were rainbow because we were on the unofficial gay beach. Looking up and down the shore, I realized the other beaches didn’t have the same umbrellas. She pointed to the beach north of ours, and explained that every other day of the week, this was a Hasidic beach, where the men and women swim separately. I pointed to the beach south of us and asked, “What about that one?” “That,” She said, “is the dog beach.” I had been enthralled with the beauty and culture of the country from the second I landed, but this one conversation made me think about the reality of modern day Israel. It is so incredibly diverse, in every way. 

Looking at the Galilee, the beautiful sea is contrasted by the banks in the distance. Driving across the country, the beautiful green of the North is contrasted by the barren hills of the Negev. The religious atmosphere of Jerusalem is sharply contrasted by the bustling secular nature of Tel Aviv. And walking down any street in the country, you will find people from so many different backgrounds, with such varied cultures and values and stories. It was the diversity and the determination of the people of Israel that truly made me fall in love with the country.

I am so excited to return to Israel so that I can explore and grow my connection to the country. This summer, our group did a lot of work to improve the land for the future, and now I am excited to go back and explore the country’s past. I think that living there will be a different experience than traveling every few days, because I will be able to understand what it is like to actually be Israeli. Although I boast about spending years at camp without getting even a little homesick, I am definitely a bit nervous to be a world away from my family and friends for two whole months. I’m looking forward to coming home and sharing my experiences with my friends.

A lot of people around me don’t understand that Israel is a beautiful place, and I desperately want them to learn that it truly is. I am so excited to be back in my favorite country, and I can’t wait to see everything that Muss has to offer!”