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Summer 2017

2nd Shabbas in Shlomi

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

Misgav Am and Rafting down the Jordan

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. 

Misgav Am and Rafting down the Jordan

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. 

Day 8 & 9: Shomer Hachadash

Am I my brothers keeper?
How many of us walk through life thinking about this powerful quote? And how many of us don’t live by it?

We spent two meaningful days with Shomer Hachadash strengthening our connections with each other and our land. From plowing the field with different tools to using unique ingredients to make a meal, singing around a bond-fire and tracking through a beautiful water hike; we can say we are each other’s keepers. The activities conveyed the message of Achdus loudly, giving us a deeper sense of understanding of others and ourselves. As time went by it was evident how we were becoming one cohesive unit and even though we started as acquaintances we ended this journey as brothers and sisters. We learned how despite coming to this world with either a rake or a tuqui, or how sometimes we are more like salt than sugar each opportunity serves as a platform to serve and grow.

Day 10: Repelling and Rosh Hanikra

Hello to all fans of Israel ID,
Just wanted to inform you that today we had amazing pre- Shabbat activities. Early morning we woke up had our daily routine of prayer, breakfast and our Torah learning groups (which are always great). Many people conquered a fear not long after, the fear of heights. We went to repel down Ma’arat Keshet, the keshet cave, which is a a very high cave in a tall mountain overlooking the norther cities of Israel (over a hundred feet drop). If you thought that was the hard part imagine the hike right back up the mountain. Our stomachs were so hungry but don’t worry Israel fed us. The food was incredible like some gourmet restaurant, but it was cheaper and in a forest and was pizza. The BEST pizza you’d ever have. Homemade, any topping you wanted, and as much as you wanted. Following the delicious food we went to the Mediterranean Sea. At first I thought ok yay a beach! But no, this was more than that, it was Rosh Hanikra! We went inside a mountain to witness how powerful little droplets of rain can be. The mountain had literal caves inside filled of crystal water from the rain crashing down splitting it into different parts forming caves of water. Coming from New Jersey, USA, I had no idea how beautiful a simple mountain can be.

Have a meaningful Shabbat,
Miri Horowitz (NCSY student)

Day 6: Tzipori and Donkey Riding

What a fun and HOT day we had!! Due to the heatwave, we nixed our hike and instead had an awesome day spent doing multiple fun activities. We started the day by going to Tzipori, an ancient archaeological site that goes back to Messianic times. We even walked passed the house of Rebbe Yehuda Hanasi. We continued traveling back in time as we dressed in robes and put on turbans. We also baked pita bread and rode on a Donkey! We even got our donkey-driving license. After we came back to the present we stopped in Meron at Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s Kever to daven. We headed back to Hispin to eat dinner, prepare for Hashomer Hachadash and broke up into our family groups once again. Looking forward to visiting Tzfat tomorrow and a meaningful fast!

Day 5: Raft building, Water Hike and Cruise on the Kinneret

Today began the fun, meaningful and jam-packed days that we will be having on Israel ID. We kicked off today with our morning chaburahs. The teens were divided into learning groups with their advisors where they learned about Achdut, the theme of this week. Then the teens hopped onto the bus to build rafts in the Kinneret. All teams were able to make their rafts float! After we went to hike Majarse, a famous water hike in the Golan. Before our cruise on the Kinnerret, we stopped at the Kever of Rebbe Meir Bal-haness, a talmud of Rebbe Akiva. The teens had a chance to daven and give tzedakah. After all the time in the sun, we ‘cooled’ down on a cruise in the Kinneret where we danced and partied away! We had a yummy dinner at a Steakhouse restaurant. After that we headed back to Hispin to end the day with our first night activity and family group sessions. What a busy day!! Looking forward to tomorrow’s fun! 

First Shabbas in the Golan

We had such a fun and meaningful first shabbat on Israel ID. We were joined by Machach and One Family and together we sang zmirot – ‘FIRE’ We played games, ice breakers, davened and sang together creating  one united family. We had a pizza Melava Malka and sang some more while some NCSYers played the guitar! We are so excited for the upcoming week full of fun and non-stop activities!  

Day 2: Chocolate factory and Tie Dye

Today on our first official day of Israel ID we had a lot of fun at the De Karina chocolate factory. The NCSYer’s learned how chocolate is made and then had the chance to make their own chocolate and take it home. After we went to tie-dye shirts at Groovster here in the north. She showed us the different tie-dye techniques and designs and left us with an inspirational message about the unity found among the Jewish people living in Israel. As we lead into Shabbos in Hisbin we look forward to singing, eating and getting to know each other a little better. We are all getting excited for the weeks ahead and the amazing actives planned. 

Have a great Shabbos!! 

 

Day 1: Welcome to Israel

Israel ID 2017 has finally begun! We all met today at JFK airport where we ate pizza and started getting to know each other. We checked in and went through security all together and felt so excited to leave for Israel. After a long 10 hour flight, we finally arrived in Israel!! We met our tour guide, Sapir, and logistics head, Zevik, at the airport where they had lots of food prepared and ready for us to eat. (just like we like it) After the airport we met up with Talk N Save and then everyone had a chance to exchange money. We are now on our way up north to stay in Hispin for the next few days. We are so excited to be all together and are looking forward to a fun, inspiring, and memorable summer!!