By Sarah Levy, NFTY in Israel Participant, Bus 4
The agenda for the evening hike on June 30th was Mount Nefesh, one of the tallest peaks in the Negev desert. After a record-breaking thirteen minute trek to the top, all of Bus 4, including myself, gathered and absorbed the breathtaking view before us. To our right was Egypt, which lies on the African continent. To our left was Jordan, the Red Sea, and Saudi Arabia – all which lie in Asia. Our feet were on the ground in Israel. Four nations, two continents, one body of water. A mesmerizing view.
But, this was not even the most incredible part. Though the difficulty and exhaustion that each person experienced made the journey up the side of Mount Nefesh filled with sweat, wind, and gasps for air, we all continued to cheer each other on. If someone’s hat blew off the trail because of the strong winds, someone else would go and retrieve it for them. When holding the water canteens became too heavy, we took turns carrying them for each other on our fronts, as our individual backpacks were on our backs. Because, with this group, this kind of team work and support is nothing less than normal. No one complained, no matter how hot, how hard the trek, or how hungry they may have been. We just kept walking, under the blazing sun, in the middle of the Negev desert…together. We walked for those who journeyed 40 years to discover our holy land. We walked so that we can stand one one continent and see another; so that we can stand in one nation and see three more from that exact same place. We walked for each other and we walked together.
