By Mahayla Meyer and Shayna Pellen, NFTY in Israel Participants, Bus 8
“Treat no one lightly and think nothing is useless, for everyone has a moment and everything has a place.” – Pirkei Avot 4:3.
As we arrive in Prague, after a far too long plane ride, we find ourselves trying to live in the moment and find our place in a foreign land. While our journey is just beginning and some of our friendships are brand new, we are already connecting bridges between our lives at camp and our lives while traveling.
Hi everyone, our names are Shayna Pellen and Mahayla Meyer and we are currently embarking on the NFTY in Israel L’dor V’Dor trip. Through being active participants in NFTY, we have seen relationships flourish in a short span of time, just as we are seeing happen in Prague today. Most of us have been forming these friendships for almost 8 years, while others are meeting for the first time. Without the comfort and safety of our “camp bubble,” we see ourselves leaving our comfort zone and cliches to form bonds that can only be made through these adventures.
At camp, we have made memories that will last a lifetime which have shaped us into the people we are today. As we are driving to Poland today we think of our both rich and devastating history and are reminded to not take any of life’s precious moments for granted. Despite the fact that Poland has represented a low point in Jewish History, we are extremely excited to follow our ancestor’s footsteps and to understand the moments of their lives.
We both understand this trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity and we plan on savoring every moment in these new places with our new friends.
B’ahava,
Mahayla and Shayna
