"Nothing Short of Amazing"

Even though our semester is starting to come to an end, our weeks here are still nothing short of amazing.

Right now in our Jewish studies class, we’re learning about how the State of Israel came to be, so our tiyulim (field trips) have been centered around this theme. Last Thursday, we visited a museum called Sha’ar Hagai, which tells the story of the battle for the road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during the War of Independence. The museum was interactive, with videos and games that helped us understand the importance of this site.

At the end of the day, we went to Ben Yehuda Street and the Machane Yehuda Shuk for dinner. It was lively, full of energy, and especially festive because many people were celebrating the Ethiopian Jewish holiday of Sigd.

Today, we were also in Jerusalem, learning about the city’s borders and why they are the way they are. We got very close to the walls and even visited Rachel’s Tomb, which was a meaningful and special moment.

This week we also had the opportunity to spend Shabbat in Peki’in, a town in the North. We explored its history of Jewish life and met the last Jew living there — a 94-year-old woman who has left Peki’in only twice in her entire life.

As the semester begins to wind down, I’ve started reflecting on how much this trip has meant to me. This has truly been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I’ve pushed myself far outside my comfort zone, and because of that, I’ve grown so much as a person. I can’t wait to see what the next few weeks hold, and I already know I’ll be sad to head back home to Arizona.