The Day Before

January 9th, 2009, 13 Tevet 5769
The day before we leave for Israel. This will be my first birthright experience and my first trip to Israel as a madrich(staff). I have been to Israel 4 times and have replayed many of the trips in my mind. Trip #1 was with my parents, #2 my high school class, #3 the Jewish Youth Directors Association, and #4 with Hebrew School teachers from Philadelphia Supplememental Hebrew Schools. Each trip has been different and I have found Israel to be in constant motion, changing so rapidly it seems, that I don't recognize it at first. Each trip has been colored by the individuals who participated, the tour guides who have led, and the status of war or peace in which Israel found itsself at that time. One thing that has remained constant however, is my affection for the land and its people. To walk through downtown Jerusalem and see billboards in Hebrew or to buy falaffel at a kiosk, to be moved through the Jewish market, Mahane Yehudah, on a Friday afternoon shortly before sundown are just some of the experiences that I am looking forward to sharing with the students.

I'm looking forward to visiting Masada, the Herodian desert fortress, and swimming in the Dead Sea, and talking and talking, and holding conversations deep into the night about the meaning of Israel and our connection to her and to Jews all over the world. I'm looking forward to beautiful vistas and crowded city streets and bus rides and jeep tours and orthodox Jews and secular Jews and soldiers. Schwarma! I'm looking forward to experiencing these things through the eyes of those who have never seen such things before. I'm looking forward to "a ha!" moments and laughter and tears and deep thoughts and stories of pride and heroism and joy.

As I prepare my suitcase and double check the list of items that I need, I think about all that will be in the next 12 days and can't wait to meet the students from the U. of Hartford and all the Temple students that have been on break for the past month. See you in Newark!