gap year in israel
This week our students got to visit two very special places. Half of the community drove up to Beit She’an National Park, which houses the spectacular ruins of the glory that was the Roman and Byzantine city of Bet She’an. Rising above them is the high mound on which Biblical Bet She’an stood.

 

The other half drove down south to Sderot and Nativ Haasara, visiting the towns and villages surrounding the Gaza Strip, and learning about the difficult situation in the area, as well as hearing firsthand stories from the residents of the area.

In addition to these two unique places, students who chose to, went on a special Hanukiah tour in Jerusalem, led by Rabbi Fivel and Shai T. It was a great opportunity to experience a different city during this holiday of light, walking around Nachlaaot neighborhood and seeing all the Hanukiot lit up.

In Nativ Haasara, the students met Tzameret Zamir, an artist and the creator of the Path to Peace project. This project tells of life in the moshav in the shadow of the ongoing security situation, and of the hope of a good and peaceful future. After hearing Tzameret’s personal story, each student had the opportunity to pick out a unique ceramic art piece on which they wrote a personal wish before gluing it on the Path to Peace wall. The artwork, which can be seen from both sides of the wall, creates an atmosphere of joy, optimism, and hope.

We are almost one week away from the end of the semester and our emotions are rising. This last week, the students had some amazing activities that began the educational process of summarizing this semester.

Next week, we will be having our final days of classes and internships!

Our Madrich on call this weekend is Shai T.

Shabbat Shalom,
Etai