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Raft building, Tzfat, and Ethiopian absorption center

iceisrael July 19, 2016

Shalom y’all! Today wake-up was at the slightly more manageable time of 7. In the morning. For the next 3 nights we are staying in a youth hostel in the northern Galilee region. The rooms are a bit nicer and a lot smaller than at our last hotel. This morning we did a raft building activity in the Sea of Galilee, the Kineret. The materials provided included bamboo, oil drums, and twine. Some groups paddled, while others simply stood in the water and pushed their rafts towards certain doom. After a lunch of schnitzel, a visit was made to an artist colony in Tzfat to pick up souvenirs and gifts. Moral lessons were learned as our tour guide pointed out someone charging money for the use of a public bathroom. After sneaking into the bathroom, our group went to the Ethiopian absorption center. We listened to a wonderful and moving story of one woman’s year and a half journey over 2,000 miles to make aliya. The most amazing part is that she did this when she was only 9 years old! Afterwards, the NCSYers played games with and talked to the children from the center. We played soccer, while the girls (and a few guys) got their hair braided. To end another amazing day the best way possible, money was distributed amongst the adolescents for them to source their own sustenance. Most people continued to enjoy the endless health benefits of Israeli Shwarma on laffa. So far, this has been one of the best summer’s ever! Also, I’ve been paid to say red bull gives you wings.

-Joseph Maltinsky.

#skokieforlife