Blogs

Hello from The Israel Challenge! This is Suzanimal writing to you live from the promised land about our sweet activities this morning.

Cheers erupted throughout our USAir flight from Philly as we finally touched down in Tel Aviv, 13 hours and a full day (how does that work?) later than when we left. Bus 22-308 Shorashim has landed!

After a great Shabbat in Jersualem it was time to head south and the part that most people were either really looking forward to or really dreading: The Negev Desert. After arriving at our hotel at 11 p.m., we quickly got ready for bed since we had a 3 a.m. wakeup call the following morning. After peeling ourselves out of bed, we managed to make it over to Masada, a massive mountain in the middle of the desert. The race against the clock was on if we were going to reach the top by sunrise.

Here in the eternal, undivided capital of Israel, our group just observed our first Shabbat together. Yesterday evening, we each participated in one of three Kabbalat Shabbat (Receiving Shabbat) options --- a "tradition" service, a more spiritual/alternative service, and a text study.

The last two days have gone by even quicker than the first two but the days have been packed with amazing experiences. Wednesday morning we were up early again and went to Mt. Arbel which looks over the enitre Galilee and Golan Heights. The bus dropped us off at the top and the hike down was filled with steep ledges, metal bars to hang onto and a lot of steep and crumbly stairs. It was definitely the most challenging hike for the group but also the most rewarding.

June 09, 2010

Let the Games Begin!

As part of their first challenge competitions, participants in the "Israel Challenge" were asked to submit videos of themesleves tha answered the following questions:

• Who are you and where are you from?
• What is something about you that is unique?
• Why will you and your team win the "Israel Challenge"

Below are responses from our first 9 competitors.

Today we visited Neot kdumim . What an experience! This artificial reserve of 600 acres is guarded and protected by a very special group of people. The leader of this reserve and our tour guide Sarah showed us how they plant develop and cultivate the land. Sarah is not your average tour guide, this lady has a real keen connection with nature. Within a few moments you could feel that this lady could probably talk with the animals. She’s all about the natural world, saving the planet, planting trees, saving water.