I was scared to go on Israel Tour, but I’m so pleased I went

I have just returned from an incredible three weeks on Israel tour with Tribe. Tribe Tour showed me a side of Israel I had never fully experienced before as it revealed the vastness of its natural and cultural landscape and, how, through such beauty, the layers of our deep-rooted history that reside within the stone foundations of the country were enthused with life again.

Every day has been full of activities, from hikes at 5am, to a (very messy) chocolate factory, to the archaeological site of Tsipori, to the Ir David tunnels. Each has been an opportunity to learn, both about Israel and Judaism whilst also having a lot of fun.

Over the course of the immense and unforgettable trip, I also witnessed and was a part of what it means to be Jewish - at its core, Judaism is about “achdut” (solidarity), strengthening and building on the connection that already intertwines every Jew. Joining with a group of American teenagers from NCSY emphasised this further to me. Everyone was from a different background, a different level of religiosity, but we were all united simply by being Jewish. I was surrounded by people my age from across the “the pond”, as well as some Israelis, who were just as dedicated, if not more, in growing in their Judaism. This inspired a desire to seek out answers and ask questions in order to strengthen my own connection with Hashem.

We were privileged to hear from the parents of Maoz Morell, who lost his life whilst fighting for Israel at the beginning of this year. They shared a little bit about who he was and told us that even in the army he continued to learn and work on his ‘middot’ (character). He also wrote poetry, not as poems, but in the form of lists; lists of what he hoped to accomplish and lists of goals. It is in his words of growth that the poetry lies, which I think is particularly inspiring. At Mount Herzl we found his burial place too - a sombre yet meaningful moment, a reminder of the countless sacrifices and the heroes protecting us, but also an insight into the intricacy and nuance of each person who makes up the Jewish people.