Shalom TJJ Bus 5 Family,

On Wednesday, we started our day visiting a Jewish Fair – programs and organizations presented our group different options and resources available for high school students and beyond. We also heard from Neil Lazarus about modern Israeli politics and provided a deeper understanding of the Arab-Israeli conflict. We then ate lunch at the Schechter center where we heard about their activities in non profit work and spent time learning a bit in the Harvey L. Miller Beit Medrash. Our day concluded with Yom NCSY. All 19 NCSY Summer programs, with over 1,600 teens came together for a night of food, friends, and tons of fun. With performances by a popular Israeli acappella group and Shlomo and Eitan Katz, we sang and danced until late into the night.

Thursday was another amazing day . We started our day by journeying to Kfar Etzion and went zip-lining through a valley 600 feet wide and 450 feet in the air. It was an incredible thrill. In addition many of us did the rock climbing in the area. Following we went to the Kfar Etzion light show and learnt about the history of the area and the fall and ultimate rise of the Gush. Afterwards we went to Chevron to visit the Cave of the Patriarchs. We were able to reconnect with our forefathers and foremothers. We concluded the day at a place called “Oz VeGaon” which is an educational nature preserve which was built in memory of the three boys kidnapped and murdered four years ago (Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali). We cleared a path in a forest which was recently vandalized and now made room for more building and growth in the area. 

Tomorrow we head to bike riding in the Emek Ha’Elah and Challah baking at my house in Beit Shemesh!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Mike

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