SH-26-122's blog

The ride from Haifa to Tel Aviv took a little less than an hour and had great views of the Mediterranean. As we entered the city, Nitzan told us that Tel Aviv was very different from any other city in Israel. From the moment we got off the bus we could see a striking difference from the places in the north that we had visited earlier. It was louder, busier and there was English writing everywhere. The low-rise buildings and coffee shops (the most per person of any city in the world) give Tel Aviv a European and international feel.

Part 1: Shabbat (by Zach B)
After showering for the first time in Israel, we all donned out finest Shabbat vestments as the sun set dramatically on the Kinneret. We gathered in the kibbutz dining hall to light candles and welcome the Shabbat Queen, and before saying the ritual blessings over a hearty communal meal, we broke up into smaller groups to sing Shabbat songs and learn more about the weekly tradition. As per usual, there were icebreakers to follow.

Shalom!
We began our journey getting to know each other in the airport at Newark, but we can now do so in full swing because we have met the rest of our bus! When we landed at Ben-Gurion in Tel Aviv, we were met by the Israel staff and participants singing and cheering. We had a symbolic opening ceremony overlooking the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and checked into our hotel at the kibbutz. After lunch, we had orientation and played some icebreaker games. We are looking forward to our first Shabbat together as a group!

...Next stop, exploring the north of Israel!