TL-50-521 Update 3

Final Update:

Wow, what a fantastic journey together! Here’s what we have been up to.

We woke up early to hike Masada to watch the sunrise.

We learned the history, celebrated bar/bat mitzvahs, and enjoyed time to mediate and reflect upon our time together. We learned about the Ancient mountain-top fortress. After this, we had a processing unit to discuss our feelings and gratitude thus far. We descended Masada Via the Roman Ramp, and had a delicious breakfast at Kfar hanokdim, Beduion tent.

After this, we went to the lowest place on earth to float in the Dead Sea. We had lunch (yum!), then drove to Sde boker. The view was incredible- a wide and deep creator in the desert near Ben Gurions grave memorial site.
We had dinner (double yum!) and had a wrap up session round the camp fire with our Israeli peers.

The night brought laughter, games, and deep conversations regarding life and purpose.

We woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the creator. Had breakfast, then drove south. We had an emotional day visiting the “Nova” festival memorial site at Reim. Powerful and moving. We heard from an officer in the reserves who was apart of the clean-up of the festival site. Heavy, but well worth the listening to stories from that week.

We then were very fortunate to have a Geopolitical border tour at the Gaza envelope area with Grisha, an incredibly knowledgeable and well connected to the issue, having served on intelligence and negotiations with surrounding countries the past decades. We learned a lot.

We then processed as a group what we were feeling, in a safe environment.

Then we had sushi at Sushimoto. We said bye to our Israeli peers. We returned to Sde Boker to shower and prepare for our leisure evening.
We had dinner in Beer Sheva, followed by our Leisure evening.

This morning (the final day), we had breakfast, we had our closing discussion and activity, and the participants filled out surveys of their experience.

We explored Sde Boker by going to the desert outpost & grave of Ben Gurion+Camal mountain. Beautiful views! We had lunch in Beer Sheva, followed by touring Be’er Sheva’s market. We then went to Azeqa, the best view point of the Elah Valley. We had a final mediation and group picture to mark the conclusion of our time together.

We are currently driving to the airport to fly home (while some are extending, to explore more of Israel).

What a meaningful journey together, filled with highs, some emotional challenges, and endless laughter – legit, I didn’t expect a group of people to be able to laugh and hug as much as they did. Beautiful journey that will remain in our minds and hearts for years to arise.

Together in community – one journey, one love.

Thank you for the opportunity to staff such a meaningful experience with a group of kind and loving humans. Until next time, goodbye for now Israel.

With love and gratitude,
Hal & Shany
Bus 521