Written by Ari Kim-Leavitt, Yallah! 2024 Participant
When we first arrived as a group yesterday at Kibbutz Eshbal, I had no idea what this experience would be like. I assumed we’d just go camping and hiking. However, it turned out to be so much more. All the opportunities for leadership, both big and small, made me reflect on how I view myself as a person and a leader.
My favorite part was after the hike today when a smaller group went up to learn about Tel Yodfat, the “Masada Before Masada.” Throughout various instances, we were able to learn, grow, be challenged, and, yes, complain a lot. There were parts of this experience that were quite tedious and unappreciated at first, such as making dinner and hiking by ourselves. Nevertheless, I now understand how these activities helped all of us grow as leaders in terms of initiative, taking chances, endurance, preparation, and many other important skills.
Thank you very much to JT, Josh,Etz, Sarah, and the Machaneh Etgar program for organizing this transformative experience.
