Shalom Parents and Students!Â
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It’s the middle of the Chagim season here in Israel and we can feel it in the air. Business is slowing down and the temperatures are dropping; our students celebrated Sukkot with the four species inside the Sukkot our students built in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.Â
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This week, our Selah students traveled to Hof Dor, one of the most beautiful beaches in Israel. They went snorkeling for the hilazon (snail) and learned about the process of making tekhelet dye. They also found out how the dye was rediscovered and experienced a demonstration of the wool dyeing process. The Torah says that tzitzit should have a blue string, but the source and process how to make that special blue dye was lost for 1300 years. Based on archaeological evidence and chemical analysis, experts believe that they have rediscovered the snails that produce the dye, which used to be one of the most expensive commodities in ancient times. Snorkeling and learning about Judaism at the same time? We’re sold!Â