Last week, my NFTY in Israel journey has been eye opening in so many ways. As we entered Jerusalem, a million emotions were going through my head, as well as many of my friends.

We live in a complicated time in a complicated world. It only takes a glance at the day’s headlines, a listen to the news on television or radio, or even a passing glance at one’s social media feed to capture the vibe. And, at least from how I hear and witness it, it’s not a good one.

We had finally left the desert and moved to a much more modern society, Jerusalem. Often times, this the most looked forward to part of the trip because of its huge influence in our religion as a whole, but also it’s culture and history.

By Kobe Hankin, NFTY in Israel Participant, Bus 1 This past week has been so incredibly amazing. We slept in a Bedouin village, went camel riding, hiked Masada, went to the Dead Sea, and so much more. A few days ago, I also had the privilege of having my birthday in...

On Wednesday, we had left the beautiful city of Prague to go to Terezin, a concentration camp on the way to Krakow. The sights of rolling hills and fields on the hour-long drive between Prague and Terezin were breathtaking and truly unforgettable. Unfortunately, no scenery, no matter how beautiful, can make up for the horrific events that took place in our destination.

The past week in Europe has been a very intense time in the lives of the teen participants. On Friday, the group experienced the highest high and the lowest low.

On Thursday, when the group landed in Israel and came out of baggage claim, they were greeted by their excited counselors holding banners and signs.  They were also greeted by smiling faces and delicious snacks.