This week at Muss, we had the amazing experience of crawling through Bet Govrin, caves that were used thousands of years ago, followed by staying in the middle of the desert at Kfar Hanokdim and learning about the Bedouin people, the Arab minority residing in the Negev Desert. The following morning, we were privileged to ride camels in the desert and enjoyed authentic Bedouin meals throughout the trip. 

Upon returning to campus, we enjoyed a lovely campus Shabbat surrounded by our friends, filled with Jewish traditions and culture. 

Later in the week, we enjoyed a counselor-led activity titled “Israeli Children's Games,” where we got to experience authentic childhood games that some of our madrichim have played.

Most recently, we had the opportunity to learn about Jewish societies in the Middle Ages, specifically the Jews in Ashkenaz, Christian Spain, and Muslim Spain. Using the information we learned from the Israeli studies teachers, we split into six groups and constructed presentations on important people from this era, each featuring a skit, song, poster, and Instagram account tailored to that figure.

This past week consisted of so much learning, activity, and excitement, which is normal for a typical week at Muss. Attending Muss was the best decision I have ever made, and every tiyul or activity we do reaffirms my decision to choose Muss.

Maya Anavim is a 16-year-old sophomore attending Providence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina.