TL-46-383 Update 2

What an incredible week it’s been!

Our group is a family, and every family has a name. We decided on “ze ma esh”, which translates to “it is what it is.” This is a lighthearted way to laugh at our need for flexibility in this often unpredictable country! Our mantra is to go with the flow, have smiles on our faces, and laughter in our hearts.

One of the best parts of Birthright is having Israelis join our delegation. Five new family members joined us for four days. This gave us the opportunity to ask questions, learn about the perspectives of locals, and build meaningful friendships. Whenever we come back to Israel, we’ll have friends to visit.

A few highlights:
-We walked the streets of Tzfat, the birthplace of Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah), where we learned about ancient traditions and viewed art and Judaica.
-In Jerusalem, we spent an evening out at Mahane Yehuda, the main market. We ate falafel and danced the night away!
-We toured Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust museum and discussed our role in contributing to the resilience of the Jewish people.
-We explored the old city of Jerusalem and spent Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday evening) at the Western Wall, where each of us connected with our Jewish heritage.
-We spent Sunday evening in Bedouin tents, viewed the sunrise on top of Masada, and cooled off in the Dead Sea.

One of our most meaningful experiences was when several of our family members become b’nei mitzvot on Shabbat. They read Torah portions and explained the significance of this milestone in their lives.

We’ll spend our last few days in Tel Aviv, exploring one of the world’s most interesting cities. We can’t wait to come home and share about our experiences.