They say that bees can make a big difference. They certainly did for me-both positively and negatively. But let’s focus on the positive, shall we?

You cannot imagine the feeling of having hundreds of NFTY in Israel participants in the country altogether at once. Tonight, we are celebrating Shabbat with NFTY in Israel from the hills of Judea to the Sea of Galilee. As Shabbat descends, we light Candles, say Kiddush over wine and we say the Motzi Lechem prayer over the Challah. For many of us, we do this without really looking into what’s behind this tradition. However, this evening our young people will have a chance to unpack this beautiful ritual and learn about how much of our Jewish practice has a deep connection and a profound foundation in the Land of Israel.

Now that the NFTY in Israel journey has ended, another journey is beginning. Your teens disembarked from the airplane very tired, but nevertheless very fulfilled. It is without a doubt that the NFTY in Israel summer is a challenging summer and ultimately it is a summer of growing up. These young people who were so far away from their homes needed to work together in a group experience that was often demanding and frequently called upon them to harness their inner resources.

By Jared Sloan, Mitzvah Corps Israel Participant, Bus 11 Every time I told someone that I was going to Israel this summer, they invariably told me how much I was going to love it and how special it was going to feel to be in the land of my ancestors, and I believed...