HDNA MBI – Bus 13

On Monday, July 9, our group ended a long day in the old city with a visit to the Kotel, also called the Western Wall. Already informed of its rich history by our group leaders, I could feel a sense of curiosity from the entire group as we were separated by gender at the security entrance.

As I sat underneath a tree in the shade I never would have realized how one tree could mean so much in this world. As what I thought was just a place to sit to avoid the beaming sun I soon learned that this tree represents one persons story.

I have always been intensely interested in politics, and because of my Judaism this interest has always included Israel. Especially given the controversy surrounding it, I have spent quite a bit of time reading about, discussing, and vehemently arguing over Israel’s history and current problems.

Recently, we visited a group of Druze, who served us a wonderful lunch. I’ll admit, before this trip, I’d never heard of the Druze (Their segregated mountain top homes might have something to do with that).

Israel has been built up all my life as this magnificent place in which the Jewish people could find comfort and call home. One iconic scene that has been described to me multiple times since my first day of Sunday school, was being able to touch and pray at the holiest of holiest sights, The Western Wall.

Hello, and welcome to Will’s Declassified NFTY in Israel Survival Guide. In this guide, I hope to give a little bit of insight on our experience in Israel, and give advice to survive the trip for anyone considering to participate. To begin, be aware that at any time an Israeli counselor might “volunteer” you into writing a riveting paragraph for the NFTY in Israel blog *cough* Yahelli *cough*.

Since Friday, the teens have been in the “Kishrei Noar” segment of the NFTY in Israel Program. ” During Kisrei Noar, eight Israeli teens join with the American teens for a week of socializing and talking about the “Big Questions” of being a teenager in Israel and in America.

Today, Wednesday, the teens concluded their Chavaya Experiences. These are four-day activities during which the teens explored an interest with a likeminded group of friends. The choices included; Gadna, an Israel Defense Force immersion; Tikkun Olam Social Justice projects; Indiana Jones in Israel, an archaeological dig; and Yam l’ Yam, a hike from the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean Sea.

My bus, Bus 6, had just gotten to the camp site we would be sleeping at. We dropped off our bags, got our hats and water bottles and we went to meet our guide, Yarden.

When I met my bus at JFK Airport for NFTY in Israel, I had no clue what to expect. I am not your “typical” kid on the trip, as I have never been to a URJ overnight camp and in another month, I will be a college freshman.