The Yam L’Yam (Sea to Sea) hike is one of several elective options, or chavayot, that NFTY in Israel teens choose from to pursue their own interests and make new friends. Learn more at https://yallahisraeldevel.campproduction.wpengine.com/north-american-trips/ldor-vdor/
Why I chose Yam l’Yam (Sea to Sea)
By Zach Galloway
I chose yam l’yam (sea to sea) for my chavaya because everyone who I knew from past years recommended it. A friend of mine from camp told me, “It’s one of the most challenging, worthwhile things I’ve ever done in my life. To be able to see and experience this much natural beauty in the place that has so much meaning. It was my favorite part of the trip and the coolest thing ever.” It sounded great and all my friends were doing it. Honestly, I thought Gadna sounded more interesting and unique. I wavered for a while, but then during the first week we spent a few nights in the Negev Desert. I don’t know what I expected going in, but my experience far surpassed whatever those expectations were. The days we spent in the mountains were amazing, and after that, all I wanted to do was see more of this country’s nature – of eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel). I had never seen the kind of nature and undisturbed Earth like I saw there in the Negev. I was so excited to hike more and spend more time in the Israeli wilderness and see as much of this beautiful place as I can. I live in South Bend, Indiana. There is not very much nature or places where there are not houses or soybean farms. I had never seen mountains comparing to those that exist here. I had never seen the beauty of the desert.
If you do not already know, yam l’yam (Sea to Sea) is one of the three chavayot. We call it sea to sea because you hike and bike from the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean Sea. We hike all day and then sleep outside at night. We cook most of our own meals. The whole thing takes around four days, including three nights camping under the stars. The hikes during the portion of the trip spent in the Negev were so incredible. Thinking back to them and hearing about how the sea to sea hikes are even better gets me so excited. Being from Indiana, I had never done a lot of hiking in my life and was not looking forward to it. After all the hiking we did I’m so ready to get back out there.
One of the best parts about the hikes were the conversations. I got to know a lot about people that I already knew. In the desert we only hiked with our camp. On this tiyul we get to hike with everyone on the trip, including those from the camp that we are traveling with who also selected yam l’yam. I hope to learn more about my current friends and definitely get to know the Camp Coleman kids better. Being around these people, in the Holy Land with all this beauty really brings out something in me and in all of us. I don’t know what it is, but it makes the conversations deeper and strengthens our relationships. I chose Sea to Sea because every single aspect of the whole entire trip interests me in so many different ways.
