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We have sadly finally arrived at the last day and though I have not fully processed the experience, there has been plenty of time to pause for reflection. I think back to the first day when half delirious we got off the plane and right away took a bus to have a group Kiddish on a cliff overlooking the Kinnert. We were asked to write down three wishes that we hope to come true during our trip. One of my wishes was to expereince a moment that is a leap of faith-to really put myself out there to try something new and exciting for the first time.

In the afternoon we made a four hour stop in the city of Tzfat in Northern Israel. Tzfat is a mystical city that is home to Kabballah. The city is beautifully set in the mountains and has an abundance of art. We went inside two synagogues, one sephhardic and one ashkenazi. Avraham, the artist formerly known as Robert, hailing from Detroit, showed us his kabballah inspired studio, art, lifestyle & personality. Learning about the art & mysticism of Kabballah, walking the stone paved streets, and finnagling for less expensive mezuzahs completed the experience that was Tzfat.

We spent our first full day in Israel in the Golan Heights. After spending the night at Kibbutz Gadot, we started the day with a hike through the Banias National Park, where we walked along a stream and saw a waterfall and an ancient temple. Next, we drove to the foothills of Mount Hermon. We saw the border with Syria and walked through bunkers from the 67 war. As the sunset, we visited a former Syrian army base and heard the story of the famous spy Eliyahu Cohen. In the evening, we went to a local bar and enjoyed singing some karaoke.

Having gone on this trip with other Jewish Americans is nice in itself. It's nice to see people coming from different parts of the country coming together to experience Israel. However, the bonus to this trip is that we get to share it with some Israeli Jews as well. Having them here gave this a more authentic experience while also allowing us to gather information. After talking with them, we were able to learn more about today's young adult culture as well as picking up some interesting information regarding the IDF.

The morning dawned on yet another glorious day for our travelers, who have been blessed with wonderful weather thus far in their journey.

Hi all, I'm so excited for our trip!
 
Just a few very quick notes:
1. Remember to be at the airport 4 hours before our flight! That means get to JFK at 5:50 PM on Saturday, January 2nd. We will meet near the El Al ticket counter.
 
2. Please have with you $60 in cash for bus driver/security guard's tip. This money will be collected at the airport.
 
3. Our group's cell phone number will be 052-566-8026 (within Israel) or 011 972 52 5668026 (from USA). A staff member will be holding that phone at all times.

The Birthright experience has been an amazing and eye opening adventure. So many wonderful and exciting activies have taken place along our 10 day journey. One of the most unique experiences was floating in the Dead Sea. It was truley a bonding time for the group. Whether it was the mineral filled mud coating or the novel feeling of discovering weightlessness, this was definitley one of the most fun and new expereinces shared as our new birthright family.

1. Cats are absolutely EVERYWHERE in Israel! They are friendly and surprisingly well fed and you will see them all over the country.

2. Bring hiking boots! I have rolled my ankle three times, and almost fallen down several mountains due to wearing tennis shoes instead of hiking boots.

3. Piggy-backing on #2 above...pack what's on the packing list! My rain jacket and mini flashlight really did get used.

4. Bring an adapter. Charging your camera and cell phone nightly are important and they are a high commodity once you get here.

Overall it has been a great trip, and I am incredibly sad to see it come to an end. I know that I have made some real connections here and have witnessed incredible transformations in my perception of the world. We had tons of fun such as caving and an archeological dig at Adullam Forest, camel rides, shopping in Jerusalem and Tzvat, floating in the Dead Sea, and hiking on the cliffs of Mount Arbel.
 

Just sharing a few images from our wait at the EL AL terminal at JFK last week. Enjoy!

Rabbi Elyse Winick