Within the past week, our group has traveled to Tel Aviv, expanded our understanding of Jewish history and culture, and had an open weekend during which we experienced Shabbat with many different families, seeing firsthand how each family has its own unique traditions and meaningful ways of celebrating.

While in Tel Aviv, we toured the city with one of our teachers, who led us on a graffiti tour. He explained that the artwork we often glance past actually carries much deeper meaning than we might realize. Nearly every piece we saw told a story worth searching for. The artists use their work to send messages to the world and raise awareness of issues they consider important.

After the tour, we made our way to the shuk, where we had the opportunity to shop and enjoy a delicious Israeli lunch. When our time there came to an end, we visited the Museum of the Jewish People. The museum was very powerful; it is a unique global institution that tells the ongoing and extraordinary story of the Jewish people. Through a variety of interactive exhibits and learning experiences, we learned and had fun together.

At the end of our visit, we spent time in the October 7 tribute exhibit, which was incredibly moving. We were given the space to walk through on our own and take the time we needed to fully absorb everything. Experiencing such powerful exhibits alongside a Jewish community was both comforting and deeply meaningful for each of us.

As for Shabbat, we all parted ways and stayed with different families and friends. It was such a meaningful experience to be welcomed into their homes and included in their traditions. Being able to see how each family approaches Shabbat—through their own customs, foods, songs, and conversations—was so, so special! Although the core of Shabbat remains the same, every family brought its own unique energy and interpretation to the celebration, which made the experience even more memorable.

Overall, we had a fun and educational week filled with bonding, learning, meaningful conversations, and tons of new inside jokes. Each experience brought us closer together as a group while deepening our understanding of Israeli and Jewish culture.

Emma Kurzman is a 17-year-old student attending Framingham High School in Massachusetts.