2001 - United Synagogue Youth

ShalhevetIsrael is a wonderful country. I had theopportunity to go on Israel Pilgrimage/Poland Seminarthis past summer and spend 5 amazing weeksin Israel. Although the situation over there waskind of sketchy, the experience was that muchgreater. One day in particular stands out in mymind. The day started with wake up at 3 a.m. byour staff yelling in theBedouin tents for ustired 34 teenagers to getmoving. We ate a smallbreakfast and boardedthe bus to race the Britishtour group to the topof Masada. It is the mostbeautiful site to watchthe sun rise over theDead Sea. We thendavened in the templeremains overlooking themountainous view. Thatmorning was priceless,like one of thoseMasterCard commercials. We then hiked downthe snake path. I thought that there was somekind of scientific law stating that the way up isalways harder than the way down, but boy was Iwrong. After we caught our breath, we hoppedon the bus to go play in the waterfalls of Ein Gedi- an oasis with Amazon-like scenery. To me it isOne Particular Dayby Ilene Silverbergthe most unique spot in Israel. We left soakingwet from the waterfalls and boarded our bus tothe last tourist spot for the day, the Dead Sea. Ipictured the Dead Sea with a bunch of mud pitseverywhere to wrestle in, but I was wrong. Inorder to get the full effect, you have to pay 10shekels ($2.50) for a bottle of mud. I decided tojust swim, or ratherfloat, without the mud.The water felt morelike oil and my immediatereaction when Igot out of the waterwas to run over to ashower and rinse off,because the salt wasextremely agitating.But it was a lot of funand definitely somethingI will rememberas a unique experience,unlike myweekly Florida beachtrips. The long day finally ended with an hour orso bus ride to Mitzpe Ramon where our groupwas to spend our Shabbat in the South. It wasnice to end such a great day with the beginning ofShabbat. To me, the longest day of our trip wasalso one of the greatest.Photo by Jackie Topol.15