Being a high school student living in Israel is very different. You learn to respect all types of different aspects of Judaism and you have many different experiences when traveling. Our topic for this blog is about explaining a moment that would only happen in Israel. This is very easy to write for me, because Israel is different from America in so many ways. I learn something new every day and I am always creating new memories.

Being in Israel for over a month now, there are a lot of moments that have stood out to me and left an impact. Only in Israel would I be able to get so close to the Western Wall that I feel like I am closest to God as possible. Only in Israel can I study Jewish history and literally be where the history happened. But one moment that stuck out to me was one near the Gaza Strip.

Living in Israel for two months not only means that I get to study in a different country and meet a lot of new people, it also means I get to have a lot of experiences that would never happen elsewhere, or just wouldn’t be the same.

It’s hard to pick just one moment that fully describes my time here. Every day is a new experience that I will never forget. However, if I had to chose one moment that I feel touched me the most, it would have to be when we climbed Masada.

I chose to study abroad because I wanted to try something new with school. I have always gone to the same public school program. I went to an elementary school, middle school, and high school at Abington. I also thought that coming to Israel was an awesome decision also. I have always wanted to travel on my own and also to Israel. This program gave me this opportunity. When my friend told me about this program, I was excited because it was what I had always wanted. Some of my goals that I wanted to achieve while on this program were to become more independent, responsible, and mature.

Traveling has always been something that peaked my interest. That’s why every opportunity I’ve had to travel I’ve taken. But that’s just me.

As a finish up my last few days at AMHSI, I enjoy looking back at the very beginning of my journey. The reason I came to Muss, what my goals and expectations were, and my journey since then.

Looking back on my time here in Israel, I can confidently say I made the right choice to study abroad.

Why am I doing this? That is the question I was asked the most when I was preparing to come here. Why am I studying abroad for two months by myself in a country on a different continent? Why would anyone leave halfway through the school year to go to school somewhere else and then return to the school that you had just left. Why do this?

I chose to study abroad for many reasons, a lot of which I didn’t even fully realize until I got here. I have always looked for adventure in my life.

The decision to study abroad is one that is not that easily made. Before I applied, when I first thought of leaving my family and friends for two months, I was very hesitant.

When looking at what college I want to attend, I always made sure the college had a good study abroad program. I have always wanted to study abroad in college and it has been a dream of mine for a very long time.

After going through the entire AMHSI program, I realized there are some things I wish I had known before I came.

Dear Future AMHSI students, Tomorrow I leave for America, because I am done with my eight weeks here. This journey has been the most life-changing experience of my entire life. I have learned to look more into my Jewish identity and I feel that I officially have a Jewish home, which is called Israel.

I am leaving for Israel in less than a week, and I am freaking out. All I can think about is being in my favorite place in the entire world with my future best friends. Everyone I talk to who has previously participated in AMHSI says it was the most life- changing experience they have ever done, and they met their best friends who they still, to this day, keep in touch with. I know I am going to love it, and I have no worries about the incredible people I am going to meet.

I have definitely thought about my goals for this session and I have a few. I would like to find myself more spiritually, discovering what I believe in and shape my morals and values.

Just to start off, I can’t even explain in words how much I love Alexander Muss. It has met every single one of my needs and even beyond. I have literally 30 new best friends who I know I will keep in touch with after this program.

Now that I have been in Israel for three weeks, it is clear to me that there is many differences between Israel and America.

Being in Israel during the school year is an experience I have always dreamt of, but never truly thought it was a reality. I have been talking to my parents and every possible contact person I could get a hold of to get more information about studying abroad in High School.

During the April session, there are so many holidays Israel celebrates during these two months. We celebrated both Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut over two days which was a lot to take in, but an amazing experience.