TL-46-563 Update 1

Today will be our 4th day together. We started our journey Sunday afternoon when 23 students filled with excitement and expectation met Mitch and me at SFO. After a 13-hour flight, we arrived in Tel Aviv, tired but in great spirits. At the airport, we were joined by one more student who came from Copenhagen and by the tour guide. After going through customs and collecting our luggage, we embarked on our two-hour bus ride to Tiberias, our first destination. Tiberias sits in the Kinneret, aka Sea of Galilee, and our hotel has a gorgeous view of the lake. Yesterday, we devoted time to learning more about each other and welcomed six young Israelis currently serving in the IDF to our Bus 563 family. The soldiers integrated seamlessly with the rest of the group. After picking up the soldiers, we became a community of 30 young people (24 students and six soldiers), the tour guide, driver, medic, and two Hillel of Silicon Valley’s staff. We were ready for our adventure of discovery.

As most of you know, Israel is hot! So, what better way to cool off than spending the day walking through a lagoon teeming with wildlife shaded by a natural canopy of eucalyptus groves. This was a first for most of us, an unforgettable, fun experience. But the fun continued! We went Jordan River rafting, cruising downstream in refreshing waters.  

Then back to the hotel for showers, dinner, and rest!

Please stay tuned for the next update in a few days!

Sarita & Mitch