Walking through a dark hall remembering the fallen children of Holocaust, we emerged from the other side to the land of hope that is Israel.

Todah for everything Israel, for being out-of this world beautiful, and for being so welcoming and warm.

Suddenly a wonderful feeling came over my heart and a smile across my face when I remembered I was in Israel.

We were so lucky to have gotten to speak to someone whose life exemplified the struggles the Jews have faced and the impact these events had on the Israeli people.

After an upbeat welcome ceremony with live music, we split off into multiple activities - scorpion hunting, belly dancing, creative movements, drawing, herb and oil tasting, star gazing, capoeira, and more!  Israelli and American music filled the cool, desert night as we watched a drum circle ensue with fire dancers, belly dancers, and a capoeira demonstration.

Tel Aviv seemed to be a mix of a seaside city, a European city, and something more practical. Even though all of the groups were separate, there was an overarching sense of unity between the different birthright groups, which made all of us feel at home.

Today, we went to the house of one of our Israeli Participants, Tess. Her family was very hospitable, and we got to eat snacks and swim in her pool! It was really a very cool experience. 

After visiting the playground, we headed over to Kfar Hanokdim to ride camels and learn about Bedouins in the desert! The Bedouin hospitality included tea, coffee, and an amazing feast. 

Next, we saw a great music group and got to sing, dance, and make beats together. Everyone was laughing and jumping around while making beats and whatnot. It was so fun. 

The sky by night in this desert is as indescribable as the land by day. I saw more stars than I've ever seen in my life, and a meteor as well.