This was one of the best trips so far – I say that after every one – but I find another reason why I love Israel so much everyday I am here. I can’t wait for the adventures to come and love reflecting on the past weeks I’ve been here.

This week was by far the best week yet. It started out with being able to see my parents and my sister over the opened Shabbat. They picked me up and we went to the mall, talked, caught up with everything, and spend a wonderful weekend in Tel Aviv. Not only was it great to see them, but also it was a little bit nice to get a break. It was great being able to sleep in my own bed, away from campus, and spending quality vacation time with my family.

This week was a pretty basic week at Muss, after Tzfat we had a full four days of classes, which may not seem like a lot compared to the normal 5 day schedule in America, but 4 days straight of classes here is crazy!

This week consisted of many general studies classes and two fun tiyuls. We were in Hod Hasharon up until Wednesday, then the fun began. We left for Jerusalem to have a Tikkun Olam day.

This week has been new to me. Over this experience so far, I have come to realize that I have been to many of the places we go to. I know the information, seen the miraculous sights and heard the foreign sounds.

It has been a long week as we all wait for something we are excited for but at the same time not excited for. Personally I think it is wrong for Jews to go to these places. Why should we go back to a place we were slaughtered? The ONLY reason I think Jews should go back is to bear witness to the survivors today and the dead. But, I am going into this trip with a positive mindset. I believe that everyone that is apart of this endeavor is striving for a wonderful experience.

When I first heard that I was going to Poland I didn’t know how to react. Once our teachers started telling us how we should start stocking up on food and hand warmers, it all started to seem real.

In core this morning we finished watching Schindler’s list and it was such a great movie but it got me thinking about our trip to Poland. I’m of course really nervous about going to Auschwitz or the other death camps, but it’s very important for me to go as a Jew and getting a deeper understanding of the Holocaust. But I’m also excited to go to Poland, a place I’ve never been to before. I’ve heard a few rumors that the food there is horrible so we all packed dried fruit and other snacks but besides that I’m very excited to explore Poland!

The hike through the sand was difficult, but the sand felt good on my toes. We sat and had class in the sand. I played with the sand and let it run between my fingers. This was the most satisfying sensation, feeling each grain slip through my fingers. After class we ran down the dunes.

Poland is something I will never forget for so many reasons. Poland was not the happiest place to visit of course but very important for me as a Jew. We started off by waking up at 2:30 in the morning and getting on a plane for 5 hours then landing in Warsaw.

My trip to Poland gave me an understanding on what Poland was before and after the Shoa as well a giving me a visualization of the early 40s in Poland.

After break it was time to head home to the Hod. I walked in the door and up the stairs to be greeted with hugs and smile and lots of love.

As the semester is quickly approaching the end of the session, I have grasped a better value of what is important to me here and how I want to end the last couple weeks I have here. It is important that I strengthen the bonds I have with many of my new best friends and try to make more meaningful friendships with the people who I don’t know as well. I am excited to see where these next few weeks take me and hope to continue on making incredible memories.

This past week has been a unique week due to the fact that major holidays that have a huge impact to Israeli’s occur during this week. We started the week out in the north of Israel, in the Golan Heights.

This Monday was Yom Hashoah, the morning started off with us in class and then we all walked into town. We stood there for a few moments and then a loud siren went off that all of Israel could hear. Everyone stopped in the middle of the street and got out of there cars and stood there silent for two minutes while the sirens were blaring.

I have such high expectations for this summer.

Israel! I can’t wait until I see you and become immersed in all of your history!