We formed a circle in the airport, chanting and dancing to "achim" and "simcha" which means "brothers" and "happiness." This quickly broke the ice and we were off to the North of Israel!
We formed a circle in the airport, chanting and dancing to "achim" and "simcha" which means "brothers" and "happiness." This quickly broke the ice and we were off to the North of Israel!
Landing in Israel for the first time was an incredible feeling. When we landed, everyone clapped and the plane was filled with excitement and joy. The airport was truly international. With flights coming in from every continent, it felt like Jews were flying to Israel from all over the world. We were all finally home and the feeling of Jewish peoplehood was so positively overwhelming.
We loaded the bus for a hike in the mountains and after a "quick 40-minutes*," we arrived. For a bunch of mostly Midwestern kids, the mountains in northern Israel were impressive and beautiful.
Our trip to Israel began like many other trips that were taken before ours. Students and young professionals who had signed up for an all-expenses paid trip to Israel, gathering at JFK, coming from different parts of the nation. Some participants already knowing each other, many not having met before at all. All of us wondering what lie ahead of us in the Holy Land. What we all knew for sure, was that the ninja turtle child and his posse causing chaos in the terminal was going to be the greatest challenge of our flight.