There was a wide spectrum of feelings within the group, and after only three days, it really opened my mind and heart to everyone's story and background. Surprisingly, sharing something so intimate made me very comfortable with these 47 people that I just met, and I continue to get to know them better every day. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be on this trip with every wonderful person here, and bond through not only religion, but stories and life experiences. I wouldn't have it any other way!

It was an extremely successful first day on Bus 221. Waking up at the Kibbutz was an unforgettable experience in itself. We quickly discovered that we shared the space with families, our Israeli peers and to our surprise, tons of cats and dogs. Before we got the chance to see the whole place, we left for our morning hike.

The 1-mile walk from Rabin Square to the Sarona Market gave us a good feel of the exciting and bustling city of Tel Aviv. 

It is my first time in Israel and I am loving every minute of this trip! It definitely feels as though we had known each other for more than just two days! :)

How many people can say they celebrated their 22nd birthday hiking in northern Israel and touring Tsfat? I don't think that's what Taylor Swift sings about...

The hike to the waterfall was my favorite part of today. There were so many canopies full of more flowers than I had ever seen at once protecting streams beneath that were so captivatingly beautiful, it was hard to keep moving at times; all I wanted to do was stare and stare and stare. It's hard to think of a more blissful moment I've felt than floating underneath that waterfall, hearing only my breath and the sound of pouring water. I was with a group of people who took their time getting to the waterfall, but although we may have held up the group a bit, it was worth it. I have never shared more laughs or felt so inexplicably happy.

The day ended with a havdalah service, beautiful of course, which ended Shabbat and welcomed in the beginning of the next week. I'm sure I could say every part of the day was my favorite part of the day, but nothing beats havdalah (except for hummus - which will reiterate for emphasis later)

Friday was another amazing day on our Birthright trip to Israel. On only our second day, I've watched the group become so close. Today alone, I witnessed pickup barefoot soccer, hair braiding, and a general inseparability among friends.
 

After breakfast, we got together and played the speed dating game to get to know each other. It gave us time to meet each and get to know each person on the trip more individually. During our break before lunch, we all hung out, throwing around a frisbee or football, listening to music and playing with the dogs that were around the kibbutz. Many of us walked around exploring the kibbutz together. Some of us found a small garden with fresh fruit and an avocado tree. We also found a free outdoor gym. It was very cool to explore.

Many of us ate falafel and Schwarma which was very delicious. After lunch, we made our way to a park. There, we learned about many stories of soldiers in combat, as well as enjoyed the gorgeous view that we could only see at this park. On top of a hill, we saw the border of the Mediterranean and Lebanon, which was breathtaking. We got back to the kibbutz to prepare for Shabbat. Our Shabbat service was beautiful, held outside and filled with many memories. Once the service was over, we had our Oneg, which consisted of guitar playing and getting to know each other games. We concluded the day with lounging out in the kibbutz central area. We're excited to rest up on Shabbat and then continue our trip.