What an incredible shabbos! Our first shabbos back together was a great one as we started off davening Kabbalas Shabbos at the kotel, my first time ever doing so. We had dinner at Aish and walked though Ben Yehudah street back to the Crowne Plaza hotel to hear some inspiring dvar Torah from our very own Rav Yaakov. Shabbos day after davening, we played some intense games of mafia followed by a great lunch. During the afternoon break, besides sleeping, I read the book “Pathway to Prayer” and felt that it really enhanced my davening especially my mariv shemonei esrei that night which was preceded by a meaningful ebbing and stories shared by Rachel Sherin and Natan Sredni. I hope that our last shabbos next week will be as meaningful as this past one.

Jordan Benditzson

Hey everyone!
Today has been really fun! First we went to Gan Soccer where we began with learning in our Chaburahs about Emunah, this weeks theme. Then we had the choice of playing frisbee, basketball , soccer or just hanging out on the playground. For our next stop, we headed to Ma’ashearim where we all chose out a Sefer or book of our choice. We ended our day at the Shook where we got to experience what a Friday at Machane Yehudah. This week has been an incredible week in Jerusalem and I can’t wait to see what next week brings!
Shabbat Shalom!!

Batsheva Dattlekramer

Hello Everyone!

Today was a GREAT DAY! We started off our day traveling to Chevron. We visited Mearat Hamachpela and learned a little bit about the importance of not taking anything for free, how Abraham Avinu made sure to pay for this gravesite for his family, who was buried there and we were able to daven in this really holy place. We also went to Kever Rachel and learned about her and why she was buried separately from the rest of her family and we learned about the political significance of her graves location in Chevron which was really interesting. To end the day we had a lesson on Krav Maga and were able to learn a few fighting techniques to defend ourself and others around us. This activity was also connected to working the land in a park dedicated to the three boys, Gilad, Ayal and Naftali, who were kidnapped and killed two summers ago. Protecting our friends and our land were a big part of yesterday’s lessons and it was a good day to reflect on things that are worth preserving and fighting for.

Coral Vaknin

HI!

Over these last two days we spent lots of time getting around the old city, volunteering, and learning. Tuesday was spent learning about medical clowning and cheering up the kids in hadassah hospital. Following that we got to walk around the old city and see a beautiful view of the Kotel and the surrounding area from aish hatorah’s roof top. To finish our day we heard an inspiring speech from a survivor of a terrorist attack in Israel, Sarri Singer. Wednesday we toured around in the city of David, walking the Chizkiyahu water tunnels and learning about the history of the holy city. After a really great MEAT dinner, thanks to Yoni finishing the Gemara Beitzah, we split up and the boys got to spend time at NCSY Kollel hearing from Rabbi Kaminetsky and the girls with Michlelet hearing from Mrs. Schneider

Shayna Travis

Wow, what an incredible day! We started off with a delicious breakfast at the hotel. Then I almost missed our bus to yad vashem, which would’ve been a shame
because it was a really meaningful experience. We separated into two groups and began our tour through the amazing museum. I learned so much about the Holocaust, from the lives of the Jews before, all the way until their lives post-holocaust. To me, the most touching experience was when we went through the children’s memorial. Hearing the names and stories of the innocent Jewish children who were murdered brought tears to my eyes. Then we went to Har Hertzel which is a cemetery for fallen soldiers and people killed during terrorist attacks in Israel. Zevik told us about his incredibly courageous best friend, Yoval who was killed protecting israel. Then I had time to walk around and see each grave. When I saw the smiling faces of the soldiers and the memories of the soldiers that their loved ones left on their graves, it reminded me how lucky I am to be part of the Jewish people. These soldiers didn’t hesitate to give their lives so that we can live together in our land, that we suffered through the Holocaust and many wars to get. I’m so happy we had such a moving and meaningful day, and I am super exited to end it walking around Ben Yehuda.
Love,
Renee

שלום to all those reading!

My name is Shlomo Amsellem and I am part of the amazing team we call the NCSY ISRAEL ID Staff. I just wanted share some of the incredible experiences and fun activities that we have done over this past week. As we parted from the north we took a short detour into the dessert where we received the full Bedouin experience. We started with camel riding and then spoke with a true Bedouin about his lifestyle and experience. After eating there food and spending the night in their tents we woke up bright and early to watch the sunrise at the top of Masada. Thanks to our amazing tour guide Sapir the NCSYers really felt connected and inspired by the story of Masada. Afterwards we had the opportunity to play in the water a bit as we hiked עיו גדי, followed by our visit to the one and only Dead Sea. After the NCSYers had the full Dead Sea experience we headed down to the south were we had Eilat waiting for us, where had three days of fun to come. Without missing a beat, we headed straight to the boardwalk after settling down at our hotel; where the NCSYers shopped, ate, walked, and some even went on a giant sling shot into the sky, but that was only the beginning of the fun as the next day we were beach bound all day. We started the day with tefila and learning groups, as usual, having nothing but water sports and a cruise ship ride planned for the day. We had the opportunity to go banana boating, tubing, kayaking and paddle boating. However we weren’t done there, so we went to cool off a bit and “chill” in the Eilat ice mall where we all went ice skating. The ice skating became a little bit of a snow ball fight, but it was amazing to see all the achdus amongst the NCSYers as all those who didn’t know how to skate quickly learned as they received the aid of their friends. We are going to miss everyone over this shabbos but we hope they enjoy visiting family and friends and are looking forward to seeing them next week in Jerusalem!!!

Hey everybody today we woke up too early to watch an amazing sunrise while walking up Masada. When we got to the top we prayed overlooking an unbelievable view. We heard about what took place on this historic place. After which we rode a cable car back down where we had some breakfast. The sun was already up so it got really hot really fast. We quickly made our way to Ein Gedi for a water hike and next to the Dead Sea. After floating in the salty water we took a long drive to our next destination, Eilat. I don’t think anyone stayed awake for that drive considering our exhausting day. When we got back to the hotel we got to walk to a near by mall to have some free relaxing time.
– Sophie Weller

The British are coming! Those were the words escaping my mouth as the holy shabbos arrived in Shlomi. Along with both the Canadian and West Coast TJJ busses and UK’s very own Tribe group, we all enjoyed a song and spirit-filled dinner. Waking up an hour later than any normal weekday, many of us enjoyed a day of naps while others spent their free time socializing. Ebbing was definitely the highlight of our second Shabbat in Israel. With so much emotion, we heard inspiring stories from yours truly as well as from our assistant director, Lea Bekhar. We said goodbye to Shabbat with song and soul, coming out more unified as a group than ever before.

Basya Rosenberg

Hey Mom and Dad,

Today was my favorite day so far. We started off our day by davening, breakfast, then chaburot. We then loaded the busses and headed off to Summit Road. We had a great hike with a beautiful view of Israel at the top. After this we went to Kibbutz Misgav Am where we met soldiers who were protecting the boarder between Syria and Lebanon. We spoke with the leader of the Kibbutz and he told us about his life and how he ended up at the Kibbutz. We had a delicious lunch after, it was Schnitzel in a baguette and it was huge!!! After lunch we headed to the Jordan River and we got into groups of 5-6 who shared rafts. It took us about an hour and a half to raft through the Jordan River and we really bonded and learned team work because we all had to work together to paddle. I had the best time after rafting and came back with memories that I’ll remember for a long time. We headed back to our hotel after and we ate dinner there and were getting ready for the next day! 

Love, Talia. 

Hey Mom and Dad,

Today was my favorite day so far. We started off our day by davening, breakfast, then chaburot. We then loaded the busses and headed off to Summit Road. We had a great hike with a beautiful view of Israel at the top. After this we went to Kibbutz Misgav Am where we met soldiers who were protecting the boarder between Syria and Lebanon. We spoke with the leader of the Kibbutz and he told us about his life and how he ended up at the Kibbutz. We had a delicious lunch after, it was Schnitzel in a baguette and it was huge!!! After lunch we headed to the Jordan River and we got into groups of 5-6 who shared rafts. It took us about an hour and a half to raft through the Jordan River and we really bonded and learned team work because we all had to work together to paddle. I had the best time after rafting and came back with memories that I’ll remember for a long time. We headed back to our hotel after and we ate dinner there and were getting ready for the next day! 

Love, Talia.