Our Very Exciting Two Day Trip Down South

On our two-day excursion to Southern Israel we explored the Tel-Azeka Caves, dined Bedouin style in the desert, climbed Masada, rode camels, and floated in the Dead Sea. Here are the students' impressions of the trip:

Abby: I loved the camel ride with Maya because it was really fun and scary. I loved the Dead Sea even though it was really cold. The Bedouin tent was fun, and Masada was extremely cold but very fun.

Lia: The cave was my favorite part because it was like an adventure and I had lots of fun. A camel sneezed on my leg!

Aviv: I liked the camel ride with Yonatan Uzin. Even though there was a lot of wind, I loved the Dead Sea. I had a lot of fun.

Zach: Floating in the Dead Sea was a lot of fun, and I'm glad I went in because I almost didn't because of the weather.

Maya: The Bedouin tents were interesting, especially the smell. Sleeping in the tent was hard because I was freezing. The camels were very fun to ride with Abby. The camels were kind of scary and the Dead Sea was also fun and cold.

Jordan: I thought the caves were pretty fun because I liked the small space even though I had a hard time getting my leg around one part. I really enjoyed the camel because it was like being in the past. We named our camel "Buzz Lightyear". Masada was very windy, and the Dead Sea was good except for the sandstorms.

Lexi: I enjoyed the Dead Sea even though I didn't float. I liked the Bedouin tent because I enjoyed being outside with the fire going while playing charades and singing songs. I enjoyed the caves because it was like exploring another world. I had fun.

Alex: I survived the camels. It was a lot of fun with Tal on the back. Lia and Noa's camel almost ate Tal! Masada was fun, but very dusty and windy.

Sammy: My favorite parts were the camel and Dead Sea. I loved how in the Dead Sea you could fall back and float.

Jonathan: It was really fun getting through the small spaces in the cave. It was really fun floating in the Dead Sea. Jordan and I named our camel "Buzz Lightyear" and sang songs about him.

Yarden: I was on the camel with Sammy. Our camel got Lexi's camel angry and almost ate Jonathan's foot! Climbing Masada was very windy. Jonathan and Mr. Wise were afraid of heights, so they protected each other.

Melanie: The camel ride was really fun, Adi was being really silly! It was fun at night at the fire with Maya. I like the Dead Sea. It was fun to float and I had no cuts.

Elad: I like sleeping in the tent. We stayed up a long time. I liked the food at the Bedouin feast. At the Dead Sea, it was funny when they charged Omer ten more shekels than me.

On our trip to the desert we experienced unseasonably cold weather, and yet we were able to experience to wonders of Masada and the Dead Sea. The students braved the cold, high winds, and dust, and were rewarded with a truly memorable adventure.

Reflections of Friday night/Shabbat

Due to the Tzofim being canceled, Saturday became a free day for our students to enjoy various activities in Tel Aviv with their Israeli families. Here are some reflections from the students:

Jordan: We had a very nice Shabbat dinner. On Saturday we went to bowling, and to Eyal and Jonathan's house. It was very amusing and fun. Friday, I went the the shuk in Jaffa.

Sammy: My favorite activity was the war museum and climbing on tanks. We went to "Mini Israel". It was a lot of fun, and we saw snow.

Zach: Yesterday we went to the park, and played a lot of sports with Tamir and his cousins. I taught them how to play baseball. The bowling was fun- we won prizes and video games.

Aviv: We went to the shuk on Friday and bought stuff for my family. I went to Azrieli. My cousin and aunt picked me up for dinner in Rishon. We went to the safari in the zoo, and I went bowling.

Jonathan: I went to Shabbat dinner with my family in Rananna. The next day we played soccer for 3 hours and had pizza at Eyal's father's restaurant "Tony Vespa".

Elad: On Friday I went to my mom's best friend's house for dinner. Yesterday, I went bowling and had lunch at Eyal's house. We played soccer and went to "Tony Vespa". I also talked to my old buddy.

Alex: I spent Friday night at Noa Oded's house with friends. Lia and I fell asleep. Saturday I went to a hiking sight in my nice tennis shoes and it was very muddy.

Melanie: Friday I went to Noa Oded's house. The next day I went to the Tel Aviv port and bought my grandparents something.

Lia: We went to the shuk after school on Friday. I saw both of my grandparents and then celebrated Shabbat at Noa Oded's. On Saturday we went on the hiking trip. It was muddy. We had a picnic, and I played soccer.

Maya: On Friday we went to the shouk for a little bit, and had Shabbat dinner at Noa Oded's house. On Saturday I woke up four times because I was excited to see my aunts and cousins. It was my little cousin's birthday; I played soccer.

Lexi: I taught Shai's siblings the "Footloose" dance. We went bowling, got ice cream, and then went to the mall. We watched a movie on TV, and I went to sleep very quickly.

Abby: On Friday I hung out at Yuli's house, and then went to her grandparent's house. The next day I went bowling, and played pool and other games including soccer. We got Domino's pizza for dinner which we ordered using Wi-Fi.

Yarden: I went with Ilay to the mall. I then went to my family's house for Shabbat. We went bowling on Saturday. After that, we played soccer, and I made pasta late at night.


Jon: Robin and I are extremely proud of our delegates here in Israel. They consistently exceed our expectations for behavior and conduct. To have the opportunity to see our students experience Israel and forge powerful bonds with the students from Nitzanim has been the major highlight of my trip thus far. I'm also overwhelmed by the hospitality and warmth exhibited by the host families and teachers at Nitzanim.

Robin: The Adat students have truly forged close relationships with each other and with their Nitzanim buddies! Jon and I have enjoyed watching the close relationships between our delegates and their hosts flourish! We are confident that this will continue with each day that the mishlachat is in Israel. Everyone is looking forward to the trip down south. The cold weather will not dampen (a pun on words) our spirits. Please continue to check out the student's words of wisdom!
Todah!

Tomorrow we're going to "Mahane Atlit" a museum about illegal immigration to Israel during the period of British rule. Time is flying by, and it's hard to believe we have already spent a week in Israel.

Reflections of our trip to Jerusalem

Enjoy the students thoughts about visiting Jerusalem some for the first time!

Melanie: "Jerusalem was amazing! The city is very old and beautiful".

Sammy: "Standing at the Kotel was amazing! I couldn't believe I was at the most important Jewish icon in the world".

Zach: "Jerusalem was very amazing. I had never been there before. It was so old and exciting to see something from Jewish history".

Elad: "It was very fun. I enjoyed seeing things I never saw before and it was very nice that it was a place where you can communicate with God".

Yarden: "Every time I go, I still remember the first time".

Jonathan: "I've been there many times before. This was the most memorable. I really felt at peace".

Jordan: "It was very cool to go back 2,000 years in history. You hear so much about the Western Wall, when you see it in person it gives you a new perspective".

Aviv: "It was really fun and amazing even though I went 7 months ago. I never visited the City of David before".

Maya: "It was cold and very fun. I saw many notes in the Wall, and it was cool to see a lot of people go there".

Lia: "I really liked it (Jerusalem) because I felt it was more Jewish. I really loved putting a note in the Kotel! I hope I can go every year to the Kotel".

Lexi: "The art on the walls was inspiring. I saw millions of notes in the Kotel showing how important it is for Jews and other people".

Ally: "It was exciting to take a picture with my grandpa in front of the Western Wall. It felt really special to see the Wall and see the hundreds of people and be one of those people".

Abby: "I felt like a totally different person when I put my note in the Wall. I felt more Jewish and like an older person".

Thoughts from the 2012 Delegates

Elad: "The mall was really fun because we got to experience it alone without parents."

Sammy: "I love how we go around without adults. I love how everyone is interested in my rubik's cuke."

Melanie: "I like how they have the scouts, and they are all good friends in the scouts...and I don't want to leave."

Jordan: "I like how everything is so close, you don't have to get into a car, you can just walk to places."

Maya: "I love how our parents gave us the experience of being an Israeli and the opportunity to come and have the freedom."

Aviv: "I'm having a lot of fun, and I don't want to leave. I wish I lived like this."

Lia: "I love how it's a contained area and really cozy, and it's nice, and you feel like you're at home. I love my host family."

Zach: "I like how everywhere we go is convenient. We can walk to school. My host family is very, very nice."

Abby: "I like how you can walk everywhere, and the mall is really close to school."

Lexi: "I like how friends go to the mall after school together. I like comparing LA to Israel- I like how they deliver pizza on motorcycles. There are no squirrels here."

Alex: "I love going to the mall with friends, especially here. I love my host family, they're very nice."

Jonathan: "I love that we have the experience of going to school like an Israeli child. The host family is very welcoming."

Yarden: "The family took care of me very, very well when I was sick. I met an Israeli doctor!"

Jon: "Everybody in Israel has been nothing but extraordinarily kind and generous to both myself and the children. It's been fabulous thus far to experience Israel with this wonderful group of young men and women."

Robin: "We are all having a wonderful time on the Israel trip. The Adat students are getting a long very well and at times it is hard to tell who is the Adat student or Nitzanim student.We hope you have enjoyed reading the students comments and will look forward to hearing more as the days go by!"

Day 2-Group Work with Israeli hosts

2012 Israel delegation Trip to Israel

On February 19, 2012
13 representatives from Adat Ari El Day School and two teachers ( Robin Solomon and Jon Wise) will travel to Nitzanim School in Ramat Aviv.
Meet the students:
Jonathan Eini
Sammy Tufeld
Elad Cohen
Yarden Henn
Aviv Goldshide
Zachary Kaplan
Jordan Kalman
Maya Witenberg
Abby Saxe
Lexi Alter
Melanie Anish
Lia Av- Tal
Alex Kaplan