SH-22-547's blog

This is Carly from Bus 547. I can't believe that we have less than two days left in Israel--the trip has flown by. We have learned so much and made so many memories in the short time we have been here. I know I will remember this experience for the rest of my life.

Shalom from Israel! This is Sean, one of the staff with Bus 547. This trip so far has been incredible!

I've been to Israel over a dozen times, but this group that I'm traveling with is among the best I've known. Every day has been filled with new challenges - opening new perspectives of Jewish identity, Israel appreciation, history, and Israeli-Diaspora dialogue. There have been many nights whose conversations have often been as long as the long days' touring.

So, everyone's getting a little bummed here on bus 547. We have one more full day together and we've got to make the most of it. Today we're going to a convention, then climb in some caves, and then the night will end with a concert with a local Israeli band.

Shalom from Jerusalem!

These past few days have been an absolute whirlwind. It's getting hard to distinguish what has happened on which day, and they have all started blending together.

Coming into Shabbat in Jerusalem, a lot of people were not sure what to expect. I know that I was a little weary of being in a highly religious place, when I myself am torn about the distinction between being culturally Jewish and religious.

I think that we were just excited not to climb a mountain on Thursday. :) Instead we walked around Tel Aviv. The first place we went was Rabin square, obviously named after the assassinated Prime Minister. We learned a lot about his life, and his political career. Then we broke into groups and did a kind of “man on the street” thing. We were tasked with finding a local Israeli to ask questions about the day Rabin was assassinated, and where they were. We also asked them how they felt it had effected the country.

It's 8 p.m. and I'm sitting on my cool porch next to room #7, Kibutz Parod. I had a long day, and when Sean asked me to write in the blog, it was pretty hard to remember the morning :)
 

Shalom from the Golan Heights! Last night was our second evening at the Kibbutz Farod in the Golan Heights. After a quick dinner and a MUCH needed shower (following a long but incredible day exploring and hiking along a stream in the Golan, looking out over the Jordan Valley, and visiting the Hula Nature Reserve), we met for our nightly group activity. This time around, after a few fun ice breaker activities (including, but not limited to a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament), Ori split us into several small groups and distributed envelopes to each group.