This week was a whole new experience of its own. The week started off pretty normal with everyday core class and then general studies classes. Our first week was completed and I was starting to get the hang of things. We had our first overnight tiyul this week, spending the night in Jerusalem. Before our departure, we were told the hike that we were about to do was canceled because of bad weather and that a backup plan was in process. Starting our tiyul off at 7:15 in the morning, everyone was excited for the adventure we were about to endure.

Pulling out of campus in the bus, we were told that we would be learning about the Philistines and the battle between David and Goliath. Our first stop was Haela Junction which is where the philistine camp was before the great David beat Goliath. We had this lesson on a Tel, which is a mountain made of previous civilizations built on top of each other. It was a short hike to the top and an interesting lesson to learn about while reading from the Torah at the same time. After we finished the lesson, the bus pulled off on the side of the road by a dried up creek, which was where the battle took place. My friends and I acted out the battle and read from the Tanach, helping everyone visualize what occurred during this time.

Next, we went to learn more about the Philistines and the way they lived their life by learning at the The Corinne Mamane Museum of Philistine Culture in Ashdod. This was an interesting detour that our teachers took us on, but ended up being very informational. Towards the end of the museum tour, we all went into an interactive learning room and put on Philistine costumes and pretended to go into battle. Once the tour ended, our madrichim put together a picnic outside, with all sorts of good food. By lunch, I figured the day would start to slow down but I was totally incorrect. We all piled back into the bus and went to the stalactite caves. This stop was strictly for fun, no learning was involved and it was really cool to walk through the caves and see how long they’ve been there, and how the stalactites form over time.

Back on the bus, we were told to blindfold ourselves and wait patiently for more directions. The only information we were given was that we were going to Jerusalem. The bus stopped and we slowly got off, forming a trust walk line, with the wind blowing and our teeth chattering. It was freezing outside by this point. Our trust walk started and we were put into a line and talked to by our teachers. They helped us reflect on our first week and helped me realize how privileged I am to be here in Israel. We took off our blindfolds. In the distance all of the lights throughout Jerusalem were twinkling. Our teachers and madrichim started to sing Yerushalim Shel Zahav and I finally felt at home. We got back on the bus and arrived to the youth hostel we were staying at for the night.

The next morning, we started the day off with a hike. Still learning from the Torah, we learned about Samuel and David. There was a cool cave at the hike that we got to explore and climb through. We had a lot of class that day but for the most part, it was pretty interesting. Once we left the Israeli Trail (where our hike was), we went to this overlook of Jerusalem for lunch. Lisa, my core teacher, helped me read the map of where towns were located in Jerusalem during the time of the bible. Once our lesson ended, we had another lunch picnic but the temperature outside was nothing like what we expected. Lunch was quick and we headed over to the water tunnels. A movie was played for us and we changed in to our shorts and sandals, while still wearing 3 layers of shirt and jackets on the top half of our bodies. The hike to get down to the tunnels was the worst part and I was dreading the water because I thought it was going to be 10 times colder than the air outside. Luckily, it was warmer inside the cave and the water wasn’t cold either. Some parts of water tunnel had the water all the way to my thighs, almost hitting my shorts.

The tunnel tour finished and we got back on the bus and headed to the Western Wall. Before entering the gate to get in, my class sat in a circle and we had the opportunity to write notes for the wall. I wrote my note and felt something I had never experienced before. A feeling I could not describe. My group was ready to go up to the Kotel, and I was excited to go back and visit it. Walking up to the wall, waiting for a small space where I could touch it, my friend Abby and I experienced something mind-opening. On one side of us were these two orthodox teenagers praying and crying as their experience was so spiritual for them. On the other side of us, a lady with her daughters were having a photo-shoot posing on the wall as if it were a green screen at a Bar-Mitzvah. It was so interesting to see one side of the Jewish spectrum on one side of me, and the opposite side on the other side.

The wall was a very special part of the tiyul for me. Each time I visit it, I feel a stronger connection to God. I realized how lucky I am here on this trip and even when I’m bored in class, I wouldn’t trade being there for anything in the world. I can’t wait to see what else this experience brings and the memories to come. So far, everything keeps exceeding my expectations and I couldn’t be happier.