TL-45-96 Update 3
Holy kosher cow, can you believe our group has been here three days already?
Yesterday’s hike in the upper Galilee was beyond breathtaking – thankful there were many trees surrounding us to return our oxygen. Truly beautiful nature- from trials, trees, and water- we got to experience it all!
ATVing was a real thrill ride! Some participants splashed muddy water on their ATV crew by driving through puddles quickly – but as they say in Israel – slicha! Thankfully, all were good sports and had a fun time! Lunch sounds as delish – and as we are realizing, we don’t have to do the dishes after meals, so it was a win-win for #Bus96! The hot springs were hot- not only in temperature but in popularity! Natural hot springs, steam room, and a sauna, oh boy! The Magillah reading at the synagogue was a treat for all, dancing, smiling, laughing, and a whole lot of voguing – well, maybe just Hal, but like Ru Paul once said- you better work! And work he did- on the dance floor!
Dinner was tasty and the night activities were not scripted – literally, the improv was out of this world! Mike G, Hal, Kelsey, Deb, Alex (aka Anthony), Olivia, Sara, Sarah, Rachel, and others hit the stage with enthusiasm while they ignited in the art of play. Those who watched enjoyed a glass of wine and a free show- sure, it wasn’t any Who’s Line Is It Anyway, or SNL, but fun was had by all. Will another improv session pop up later in the trip? Stay tuned!
Day 3 we began with a hearty breakfast, followed by a spiritual venture with a tour in Tzfat. Participants took a dive into Kabbalah and learned more regarding Jewish mysticism. Special thanks to Avraham for sharing his decades of knowledge and passion. Many bought art and books to dig deeper post-trip. The time on their own to explore the holy city brought groups of strangers together to form bonds and create solid friendships. This continued with the Haifa scavenger hunt! 2 hours to explore, learn, and take pictures by statues! Who do you think posed better – the participants or statues? We think our crew 🙂 There is still debate on who ‘won’ the scavenger hunt, but Alex, Alex (aka Anthony), Karla, Sara, and Maddie did make it to the bus first – we’ll let y’all decide from the picture below – who really went all out for the scavenger hunt? Adam and Max sure enjoyed their coffee with the design on top of the foam- although that wasn’t on the list, we appreciate the shared pictures. Thank you Haifa – we enjoyed our time in your beautiful yet modest city. It was then time to begin our journey to Jerusalem – where we will be for Shabbat and Purim’s celebration Thursday and Friday! Let’s see who dresses up and gets festive with costumes tomorrow! The evening of day three concluded with a delicious dinner (once again, the 8 vegans/vegetarians were presently surprised with all the delicious and nutritious options- but not to fret, the meat lovers had more than enough options as well! Stories and laughter filled the fancy restaurant and other Birthright groups entered to witness the connection of #Bus96- it’s unparalleled! Don’t believe me- look at our pictures and decide for yourself. To cap the night off, our crew went to the Mahane Yehuda market to walk around, get a late-night snack, and enjoy the music and dancing in the streets. Such a fun and exciting evening! Wow, can you believe we have done all that in less than 2 days?!? Well, we are just getting started folx!
Tomorrow, we will continue the exploration and dive deeper into the history of Jerusalem as we tour the old city and Jewish quarter, celebrating Purim during the day with costumes and glitter- yes- the glitter is coming, be prepared! Also, we are delighted that we have Israeli soldiers joining our Birthright fam! We are delighted and ready to welcome them in! Shabbat is coming and we have so many activities to arise, not to mention the visit to the Kotel and a five-course meal for Shabbat!
Keep following our adventures – we are creating memories and want to share them with you since you can’t be here with us.
Stay tuned!
Much love from #Bus96 and Deb & Hal, we are overjoyed with glee at the connections our newly formed Birthright family are creating. And this is only after three days – as one of the words of the day, and many enjoy saying – sababba! Let the journey continue!
