These were all great bonding activities, but my favorite part of the day by far was visiting Mt. Bental at the Golan Heights.

We spent our morning hiking in the Golan Heights, swimming in a freshwater spring, and taking in the beautiful views of the vast desert.

We made our way to a shimmering pool of water fed by a picturesque waterfall.

We saw some beautiful artwork on the way out of the old city.

We then trekked up to the bus on a short and sweet climb up broken rocks that served as a natural staircase. It was beautiful.

This trip has thus far given me a sense of connection to Israel and Judaism that would not be possible without the outstanding staff and participants. I’m eager to take on tomorrow’s adventures.

We were extremely excited to see our Israeli family dancing and singing to our arrival. We gathered in a big group circle and learned a pump up chant "achim simcha", or brothers-joy . This set such a great tone for the trip.

The first step onto the ancient lands of our great ancestors marked the official start of this pilgrimage what we will call home for the next 10 days. The faces of old and new friends fill the bustling airport as we are greeted and welcomed by our native family. The welcoming embrace , energy and high spirits act as the most fitting catalyst to this life changing journey we currently navigate through compiling the essence of knowledge, culture, and the true meaning of love amongst the beautiful human beings that make this earth the most unique place to live.

Our first full day in Israel gave us a real taste for what to expect for the coming trip. We met the Israelis who would be with us for the entire 10 days, and embarked on our way to the Golan Heights. Once there,  we embarked on a three hour hike to a water hole where we got the chance to swim. Along the way, we climbed through the arid terrain.

I'm learning so much about Israeli culture from the Israelis on our trip.