By Lindsey Marnocha, NFTY in Israel Participant, Bus 2
Shabbat. Known for being special compared to the rest of the week. Shabbat is the time where we all rest, celebrate, and look forward to the coming week. The NFTY in Israel trip. Known for being special compared to the rest of many teens’ entire lives. Our Israel trip is our time to celebrate, make new memories, and take our new experiences back home with us.
For me, flying alone to New York was a new experience that was a little scary, but flying with tons of my friends was another new experience that I will remember forever. We also got to not only go inside several of the thousands of archaeological caves in Israel, we also got to touch pieces of uncovered history from over 2,000 years ago. However, spending Shabbat in Israel might be one of the most impactful new experiences I get to have, let alone spending Shabbat in the Negev.
Shabbat was one of the most uplifting, special moments of the trip so far. I had the amazing opportunity to songlead, and it felt surreal. We took a moment of silence to listen to the sounds around us, and it was more impactful than I could’ve ever imagined. The feeling of being in the desert, surrounded by so many old and new friends and their voices, after just having the most amazing hike brought me to tears. It was truly special, just how Shabbat should be.
So many of these experiences are once in a lifetime. Becoming closer to our friends, to God, and to Israel all in the same place is truly an unforgettable memory.
Never
Forget
These
Years
