Posts by Batya
Update from Israel #Bus357
Bus 357 had an amazing first week. After a couple days up north, we visited Safed on Wednesday and met with Avraham Leventhal and learned about Kabbalah and spirituality in Judaism. We then took a detour on our way to Jerusalem and went to Netanya to hear from American group leader Laura’s grandmother, Livia Bitton-Jackson,…
Read MoreMy #Jewish Cleveland
Thank you to the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for sharing this alum testimonial from their partnership trip with Israel Outdoors! My dad is Jewish and my mom is Catholic. I went to Catholic school from prekindergarten through 12th grade. We hardly ever went to synagogue growing up. However, I started attending Shabbat services with my…
Read MoreUpdate from Israel #Bus632
Following a memorable and meaningful few days in Jerusalem, our mishpacha (family) has arrived to the Negev desert. Earlier tonight we enjoyed a delicious Bedouin-style dinner and we’re now sitting around our bonfire enjoying smores, singing, and playing games organized by the “spirit” committee. Earlier today, we began our day in Eilat with a mountain…
Read MoreUpdate from Israel #Bus221
Unbelievable how much we have already experienced in the Holy Land. Even though it was raining most of the time while we were in Jerusalem, that didn’t stop us from visiting Yad Vashem on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We visited the Old City and the shuk the next day. We spent Shabbat dinner on Friday…
Read MoreUpdate from Israel #Bus632
We hit the ground running with a trip to Givat Haviva to learn about the background of the geopolitical situation in Israel. The eloquent and insightful speaker brought the group to a hill that looked over a village bisected by the green line and security barrier. The participants, most of whom had no background in…
Read MoreUpdate from Israel #Bus631
After a nice Shabbat at Kibbutz Afik in the Golan heights, we explored the region and got to see some great views from Mt. Bental. The Israeli soldiers then joined us and we spent the next few days exploring Tel Aviv and the Negev. On Wednesday morning we climbed Masada and watched the sunrise from…
Read MoreWe’re in the News!
Recent Israel Outdoors participant Adam Troy was featured in his local paper! The best parts of his trip were experiencing the Jewish Sabbath in the “holiest city,” connecting with his Jewish heritage at another level and meeting the people of Israel, according to Adam Troy. Troy just returned to Rome after participating in a Birthright…
Read MoreUpdate from Israel #Bus261
We toured the old city of Jerusalem, saw the Western Wall, and celebrated Shabbat in the hotel!
Read MoreUpdate from Israel #Bus427
A successful and joyous week has passed on bus 427! From last Shabbat to this Shabbat, Bus 427 has traveled north to south, east to west, enjoying many stops in between. We survived in a cold and rainy morning on Mt. Bental overlooking Israel’s borders with Lebanon and Syria and a nice drive south to…
Read MoreUpdate from Israel #Bus259
Hello friends and family! We have had an AMAZING first half to our Birthright experience. After a wonderful and relaxing shabbat in the kibbutz, we spent some time exploring the beautiful natural landscape of the north, with some hikes and outlooks. On Monday we made our way down to the seaside city of Haifa, where…
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