The beginning
As a group from bus 468, we finished our first hike on mountain Jilaboon. We learned about the 6 day war and some of the sacrifices our Israeli army has gone through to keep this land for our people. I have gone to soo many places in the states and walking here in a land so rich in Jewish history honestly left me in awe. The scenery the views of the mountains this trip is so surreal I cannot believe I am here.
Joshua Hammer Arenson
After a 16 hour journey that took us from New York to Zurich to Tel Aviv, we arrived at the Kibbutz in Golan Heights that will be our home for the next two nights. We have met our roommates, enjoyed an opening ceremony and played some ice breakers. With new friends from across the states and Israel, our adventure is just beginning.
Jacqueline Wittlin
Israel is not a desert; as a surprise to most on our bus. Har Bental, is one of the most important "hills" in the country of Israel. With the vast history of battles between Syria and Israel, we have to realize our freedom comes at a price and Israel is still fighting to keep theirs. I know for myself after exploring the bunker, the sacrifice and service that most of the Israeli teenagers will face. The enclosed space with tight corridors and winding walls gave our group an insight to the conditions the military lives with weeks at a time. The experience of standing hundreds of feet from the Syrian boarder is an experience that we should all remember. Everything can change in a matter of days; tomorrow Golan Heights could be a part of Syria. I'm glad I can say I made this journey now when Israel is the way it is. Because Golan Heights is under such controversy the question of the day is "Should Israel trade Golan Heights for peace?
This post is dedicated to the youth who grew up to change their future, the youth who are dreaming of changing their future and the youth who haven't been presented to the world yet:
Our group, fourty-four strong, combining new adults, leaders, and Israelis; all together, all with different dreams and ambitions, that drive us to take each step everyday. I had no idea the beauty that we were arriving to at Kinneret. I feel I speak not just for myself, but for my group as well when I say Kinneret is the most beautiful cemetery I have seen. However the beauty is not the only thing that makes Kinneret a unique piece of land. The atmoshpere is calm and inviting.
Nothing on the birthright trip has been more impowering so far than this trip to see two great women of Israel, Rachel and Naomi Shemer. Rachel, a poet who was abandoned after becoming sick created such great works of literature that inspired Naomi Shemer and many others. Naomi, a young girl with a dream had to go through a lot to reach her dream of becoming a musician. After choosing not to go into the Army after school, she chose to study music. While she grew to write popular songs, she didn't know at the time that her dream would amount to anything; after all it was only a dream. Her grave, only a few feet away from her mentors grave, Rachel, rests with stones covering the last place she lays. The stones show how much she is loved and I garentee that there with be more at the end of every year.
All of us on the trip are young. Our dreams are young, but we have time to grow and develope as future successors of our generation. The inspiring stories of Rachel and Naomi are a catalyst to us as a group. Once we leave our adventure through Israel we will have to face the reality that we can do whatever we want. These two women pushed through hard times and we can all relate to bumps in our way, but like these two women all we have to do is jump over them to become great men and women of the future.
Jennifer Guy
