My Desert Experience

By: Maya Tarnoff, Bus 8A

When I first heard that we were camping in the desert for 4 days in a row, I was indifferent. I was worried about the lack of showers, toilets, and air conditioning in the scorching heat. But the first night when I saw the stars from my mat on the desert floor, I was so grateful. The stars were one of the most bright and beautiful things I have ever seen. Since I couldn’t capture it in photos, I hope to come back some other time to see them again. The desert is calm and quiet, very different from my home. Being there allowed me to feel connected to nature and to the land of Israel. Going on hikes, singing camp songs on Shabbat, and eating meals were all new experiences in the desert, and they helped me see everything from a new perspective. Overall, even though there were some hard parts, I’m really glad that I went to the desert with my camp friends because it was fun and so meaningful!