These past few days have been absolutely packed! So here is a rundown of what we’ve been up to. Our second last day in Poland was extremely meaningful. We went to Auschwitz-Birkenau to tour the concentration camp and museum. Learning about our history was a difficult time for everyone, but such an important experience to go through as a young Jewish teenager. The barracks, the train tracks, and the gas chambers were sights that truly showed the atrocities that our people went through, yet still none of us can fully understand this pain and struggle. At the end of the concentration camp tour, we had a ceremony where many teens shared poems, testimonies, and other insightful readings in front of our whole group. Additionally, the president of URJ, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, gave an impactful speech, and then as a group we joined together in the mourners’ Kaddish, Jerusalem of Gold, and Hatikvah. Eisner camper Sophie Nevarez said, “It was a very important experience for all of us to learn about our history and come out of it with more knowledge on the subject. Doing it with people that I’ve grown up with made it even more special”.
The next day, we switched gears. After a heavy day of learning and mourning, it was important to revive the upbeat vibes, so we went to Energylandia, one of the biggest amusement parks in Europe. Between the exhilarating roller coasters, exciting water slides, and delicious foods, the campers had an amazing day, and it was a much-needed time to relax and get our minds off the intense learning we had done the day prior. Once our time at the amusement park came to an end, it was time to head to the airport! It is time for Israel! We travelled through the night and finally arrived in the holy land. Once we touched down at Ben Gurion, we got on a bus that took us up north to Tiberius, where we are staying at a great hotel located right on the Kinneret. Eisner camper Mikaela Davidson said, “This feels like a very complicated place where things are always happening, and I want to explore Israel as a country, and my connection to it as a Jew. The last time I was in Israel was many years ago, so it feels much different to be here now as I am older and more mature and can learn more about my Jewish identity”. We had some time to rest after our travels, and then we went tubing in the Kineret! It was hectic, but the campers all had so much fun, and it was a needed refreshing activity. We have so many great things planned, and now we are getting ready for our first Shabbat in Israel. Stay tuned for more updates about our time in the land of milk and honey!
