What a busy few days we’ve had! On Tuesday night, we arrived at the Bedouin tents, where we rode camels through the desert, learned about Bedouin life from our host, and ate a traditional Bedouin meal. We woke up at a shocking 3:45 a.m. on Wednesday to hike up Masada. Watching the sunrise from the ancient fortress made the early morning worth every yawn! After our photo and yoga sessions, we toured around the mountain before hiking down the snake trail (named for its winding path) to have a well deserved breakfast at the visitors center.

But the fun was only beginning for the day! After a beautiful hike at Ein Gedi to splash around in the waterfall, we drove to the Dead Sea to float in the salty water. Despite some stinging in any cuts, we all loved the feeling of buoyancy in the water. We left after lunch to drive to our hotel. It was a silent ride, as everyone took the time to enjoy a well needed nap on the long ride!

Once we got to the hotel, we all used our free time to rest and shower after our busy day. A delicious dinner and group discussion about the upcoming days ended our long day, and we were all grateful for the early bedtime.

But the fun didn’t stop there, because Thursday was another great day… Well rested and ready for an amazing time in Jerusalem, we drove to Mount Herzl, a famous military cemetery named after Theodore Herzl, the visionary of Israel. While it was a solemn time, we also learned about some of the most important names in Israel’s history and gained a deeper appreciation for those who gave their lives for the protection of a Jewish state. After the visit, we drove to the Jerusalem Rose Garden to relax and enjoy a pizza lunch before touring the Knesset, Israel’s government building where we had the opportunity to sit in both a committee meeting room as well as the meeting room for the 120 members of the Knesset. We left the Knesset to go back to our hotel to get ready for our evening. Before we headed out, we had a lesson on Judaism in Israel by a local Reform rabbi.

We then went to BBYO B’Yachad, an event where all the BBYO trips in Israel meet up. We rode roller coasters, ate falafel, and danced the night away with all of our new friends from this summer. We returned to the hotel, tired by happy, ready for whatever adventure awaits us tomorrow… !!

With love,
Tal S.