I’m writing to you here from the peak of Mt. Meron on day 2 of our Yam L'yam- Sea to Sea trek.

On Sunday and Monday, we continued our studies, delving into the story of the adaptation of the Jewish people to our first experience of exile.

In the year 586 BCE the Babylonian empire destroyed Jerusalem and the Beit Mikdash (the Temple) and exiled the Jews to Babylon (modern day Iraq). Conquest and exile were the fate of many small nations in that era, and once conquered and transferred, all those people vanished into the sands of time, assimilating into the new cultures they lived in. Except one, the Jewish people...

How did our ancestors keep their culture, faith, language, and sense of purpose, against all odds?  One facet of the answer is that they created the traditions and communal frameworks that Jewish communities live by until today: our community centers, synagogues and temples, our prayers, our centering of the home and family in our spiritual lives, our community schools, Tzedaka (charity) and more.  

On Tuesday we rose before dawn and headed north to Achziv beach, near Nahariya. Our madrichim (counselors) led an opening ceremony and we started off on our trek across Israel, more than 50 kilometres up and over Mt. Meron; one the tallest mountains in Israel.

On day one we hiked from the coastal plain, up the beautiful Achziv river valley, and camped in the Upper Galilee.

On Wednesday we climbed Mt Meron and then descended through Mediterranean forests and agricultural fields. We are sleeping in the Amud river valley tonight, and tomorrow we will hike and swim in the Amud river and canyon.

By Friday midday we plan to be at the waters of the Kinneret, celebrating and swimming before heading back to Hod Hasharon for a very much needed Shabbat rest.

Ask your children to send you some pictures of our beautiful adventures!

Wishing you all the best, shabbat shalom!