My Muss Magic

Practically everyone in my family has gone to Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss). My mom and dad went in the 90's, my sister went two years ago, and all of my uncles have gone too. I grew up hearing about Muss and how incredible it was to my family.

It was inevitable that I would attend Muss too the summer that I was 16. My summer spent in Israel has been something that I have looked forward to as long as I can remember. However, following the brutal and horrific day of October 7th, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to spend my summer at Muss. I understood that if it wasn’t safe, I would not attend, but I hoped and prayed I would be able to go. My family and I kept an open mind and waited patiently. When I found out that I would still be able to go, I was ecstatic and beyond grateful. My dream summer was about to come true. 

As my time at Muss comes to an end, I am aware of how much this program has changed my life. I have made lifelong friends and made memories that I will never forget. I feel more connected to my Judaism and feel the Zionist energy running through everyone’s veins. This magic that I feel daily is a result of the incredible teachers that I have learnt so much from, the amazing sites we have visited, and simply being in my homeland. 

It sounds cliche but Muss has truly changed my life. I am ready to go home and live my life as a proud and educated Jew and Zionist. I am ready to share my experiences with the people I encounter. I am ready to return to Israel to feel the magic that Muss introduced me to. This trip has been educational, eye opening, and beyond transformative, and I have loved every second of it.

Sari Gross is a high school junior at Clayton High School from Clayton, MO.