Hannah J. – Camp Counselor, Summer 2018

“Going into this program, I had no clue what to expect for my first week. I have been to Israel a total of four times and each experience was wildly different, however one thing was for sure, I had never been to Israel exactly as I am now. I am much more mature than I was the last time I was here three years ago and I know this will help translate into a completely knew and enlightening experience. In my first week, I acted as a tourist in my new home of Jerusalem and drank everything the city has to offer. I also traveled to Tel Aviv over the weekend to experience the nightlife and beach culture that Tel Aviv is often known for. With friends from my camp, as well as some new friends, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and walked along the boardwalk taking in the sights. When we returned from Tel Aviv, we were greeted by our Israeli counselors whom we had become so close with as well as some friendly new faces we couldn’t wait to get to know. The following day, majority of the participants in the program (my new best friends), decided to go to the meat and beer festival in the First Station to treat ourselves like the Israelis we are at heart and immerse ourselves in the culture. We had such an amazing time sampling different kinds of beer and meat. My personal favorite was an alcoholic ice cream made in my all-time favorite flavor Mint Chip. We were even surprised by our Israeli friends from our last trip to Israel who decided to show us the proper way to party like a local. We danced the night away to the sounds of the live band with our friends by our sides. It was truly an unforgettable experience and I know this is just the beginning.”