Finding Their Footing (and Heading North!)
The fall semester is officially underway! After all the introductions, unpacking, and settling into campus life, this week has given our students their first real taste of what life at Muss is going to look like over the next four months—engaging academics, exploring new places in Israel, newfound independence, and quite a lot of walking!
Students got their first taste of independence on Sunday when they journeyed into the heart of Hod HaSharon. Friendships formed away from campus, and students started to feel what it's like to be immersed in Israeli society. Monday evening took them slightly further afield, with a trip to the mall in Herzliya and bowling! This trip gave everyone the chance to relax together and, most importantly at this early stage, the opportunity to get to know each other.
There has, of course, been plenty of studying and schoolwork as well! This past Tuesday was a full day of coursework before getting to see what was learned in action. On Wednesday morning, the entire group packed up and headed North for their first overnight tiyul (trip).
Here, the group visited a memorial dedicated to the Six Day War and marched through the trenches — physically walking in the footprints of history. They learned the incredible story of Eli Cohen, the Israeli spy whose intelligence work in Syria became hugely significant to Israel. The madrichim (counselors) witnessed history coming to life in our students' eyes and curiosity began to take shape.
The next stop was a hike through Banias. The hike itself was hot and strenuous, but... when we finally reached the waterfall of the nature preserve, it all became worth it. Israel's natural beauty never fails to inspire.
Students traveled right up to Israel’s northern edge, visiting the northernmost kibbutz in the country and looking across towards the Lebanese border. For many of them, simply being able to see Lebanon made something they had only ever heard and learned about suddenly feel much more real.
Over Shabbat, the group is staying at Kibbutz Gadot, with plenty more of the North still to explore. Over the next few days, they’ll continue to discover the Golan and Upper Galilee, with experiences ranging from history and hiking to kayaking and the Hula Nature Reserve.
It’s only the beginning, but students are already settling into a rhythm — navigating classes, creating new friendships, gaining confidence, and becoming accustomed to the new norm of having the entire State of Israel as their classroom.
And if students think a hike in 100-degree heat is “worth it” their very first week, we are well on our way to an incredible full semester!