TL-41-17 Update 1

Shalom family and friends,

We made it to Israel! After nine and a half hours in the air, we finally landed at Ben Gurion Airport where we were joined by Ashley and our Israeli staff. Our travels were smooth and many of us even managed to get a few hours of sleep.

From there, we drove up to the North where we checked into our lodging for the next few days – a Kibbutz right on the edge of the Kinneret, the largest freshwater lake in the world. The view is beautiful, particularly at sunrise (which several of us woke up early enough to see).

We began our second day at a lookout point over the Kinneret followed by a tour of the Golan Heights winery. Lunch brought our first tastes of falafel, shawarma, and hummus which gave us the energy to brave some wind and rain at the top of Mount Bental, a dormant volcano nearby. As the storm subsided, we got to see a brilliant rainbow.

After a busy first few days, we’re enjoying some down time making new friends from the group and hanging out around the kibbutz. This evening, we’ll be learning more about the geopolitical context of the region.

We have many exciting adventures ahead of us and can’t wait to share them with you!

All the best,
Bus 17