The Importance of Community

When I first decided to come to Israel for a semester, I never imagined that the most worthwhile thing I’d get out of it would be my friendships. Initially, I was most excited for a new experience abroad. But as we reach the halfway point in our semester, I’ve become aware of how far off my anticipations were. It’s amazing how close everyone has become in a mere two months. I know for a fact that I’ve met some of my greatest friends for life, and it’s this camaraderie that has made the semester worth it. Since I come from a city with a minuscule Jewish population, the community we’ve formed is incredibly important to me (particularly because it’s so hard to be Jewish in America nowadays). Throughout these eight weeks, I’ve felt my connection to Israel become stronger alongside reinforcing my own Jewish identity. Finding companionship among ourselves is instrumentally important for the Jewish people especially during this trying time, and I will be forever grateful that I found that at Muss. 

Ruth is a 16-year-old student at JP McCaskey High School in Lancaster, PA.