TL-BR-53-16 UPDATE 1

Chag Hanukkah Sameach from Kibbutz Ayelet HaShachar. After a lengthy delay, we were thrilled to arrive in Israel and everyone remained in good spirits throughout the entire trip. 

We made the most of the delay, and the passengers on the plane came together to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with blessings and songs. On a difficult day for our community, this was a great reminder of the importance of our trip and the resilience of the Jewish people.

After landing, we met our leader, Gadi, for a brief orientation before heading north. During the bus ride, participants immediately began bonding, many already sitting with new friends they hadn’t been traveling with earlier. 

Once we arrived at the kibbutz, we had dinner together followed by a short evening session, where we lit the menorah and reflected on the people and communities we see as the lights in our lives. Hearing participants speak about their Jewish communities and the opportunity to take part in Birthright as sources of light was heartwarming. 

Today was a full and exciting day: a geopolitical jeep tour along the Syrian border, a walking tour of Tzfat: which included a visit Kabbalah artist and a stop at a local winery. We’re looking forward to the experiences ahead and continuing to deepen the connections within the group.

We are so happy to be here and look forward to sharing more updates in the coming days!

– Tess & Sydney