Shalom! After months, weeks, and days of anticipation, we have safely arrived in Israel. A ten hour plane ride was no excuse for us not to begin our trip bright and early Thursday morning with a beautiful opening ceremony called Shehechiyanu, which is a blessing for renewal. We gathered on a gorgeous JNF site next to the sea to write down our personal goals for the trip, folded them up, and put them in a bottle to symbolize our togetherness.
We traveled to North Golan and hiked in the canyon of Nahal Betzet. We pushed through our jet lag and enjoyed the beauty of the mountains and explored caves along the way. Our hike was shaded by trees and the jetlag provided for some laughs along the way. Of course, no hike is complete without an ice cream treat afterwards. #yum.
Even though we were tired, and let‘s be honest- a little cranky, everyone truly came together and bonded. Whether it was chatting on the bus, sharing a room at the Kibbutz, or saying a simple “hello” at the airport, we got to know each other and began to form a solidified group. Surely we all might have experienced being homesick from our families and friends, but this too is our home- our birthright. We continue our journey no longer as strangers, but as brothers and sisters.
