By Aleeza Schneider, GUCI in Israel Bus 2 Participant
When we first got off the plane, my first thought was how I was so happy to finally walk and stretch out. Being on a flight for that long can hurt your knees! Then as I walked through the airport taking in the surroundings, I was so overwhelmed with everything because being in a country where people don’t speak your language, or at least not as the default, is very confusing. Although I no longer feel overwhelmed, it still has not quite sunk in that we are finally in the place we have talked about for so long.
When we got on the bus and were driving to our first hotel, I looked out the windows at the city and the people. Every sign was written in Hebrew! At home I usually associate any Hebrew with Judaism, but hearing it spoken all around me and remembering that it’s one of the official languages of Israel really was amazing. That made me feel a connection that was really powerful and meaningful.
I also felt an immediate connection to all of the people I saw. This was quite different from the connection with the language, but just as meaningful. It’s so cool to be in a place where Judaism is one of the main religions, and not a minority. Walking around Old Jaffa on our first day and seeing so many men with kippot and seeing so many outwardly observant people really was amazing. I live 8,000 miles away from them, and we’ve never spoken, and yet we still have a meaningful connection through our Judaism.
Camp has really helped me shape my Jewish identity and has given me so many skills and connections, even with people who live 8,000 miles away from me in a foreign country. I have never been here before, but the background I acquired at camp helped me understand the significance of being here long before I arrived. The people here have been so welcoming, taking every opportunity to welcome us with a b’ruchim ha’baim (welcome) or greet us with a boker tov (good morning) or a simple shalom (hello).
Being in Israel is so surreal, and it’s a dream come true. If you ever get a chance to go, I already feel confident saying that you should. You can feel this connection that I and hundreds of other teens get to experience, hear the language of our people, see the sights, smell the aromas, and taste the foods that are not easily found back in the U.S. It’s been only 24 hours, but that link already feels strong.
