One of the central values of Jewish tradition is the concept of Torah L’Shma (Learning for its own sake). Often this value feels like it clashes directly with some of the messages that are sent by the dominant western culture that surrounds all of us. At times, we feel as if we are encircled by a construct where learning is treated as simply a means for getting ahead.

Though we were tired after waking up with stars still in the sky at 3:30 AM in order to climb Masada and watch the Israeli sun rise over the Negev, we were revitalized by the saltiness of the Dead Sea. Floating effortlessly and being buoyed by the water was a perfect way to end the blazing morning, despite the fact that our hiking related cuts stung with the salt.

One of the running jokes on my trip has been that people actually go to the bathroom in Jerusalem. It’s kinda crazy, the idea that this holy city, where people dream of going their entire lives, where the Jewish people have endless history and culture and which holds a deep spiritual value, oh yeah, people live there.

Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust memorial outside of Jerusalem, tells a story of the Jewish people and their persecution. On July 6th, through original artifacts, survivor interviews, and expert tour guides, the Sci-Tech Israel teens learned about the Holocaust through stories and faces.

We visited one of the offices of Airobotics, a company that has pioneered a new way for companies to take advantage of drone technology. Drones have many useful commercial applications, for example they can be used for security surveillance, as machinery inspection systems, or for emergency responders to do reconnaissance.