Israel 2025 – April 23: Levi Marderstein & Avi Schultz

After a long and tiring flight, we met up with the other schools (Kellman Brown Academy and Schechter of Hartford) safely in Israel early in the morning. We were also met by our tour guide (Hillel), our madrichim (Hila and Maccabi), our guard (Ori), and our driver (Sammy).  

We drove to a beach in Caesaria, and after a brief Tefillah, we got to know each other from the other schools. Caesaria was cool because of the ruins from the aqueduct. 

We later went to Zikrhon Ya’akov for our first pizur. A pizur means that we get 50 shekels and an area of restaurants where we can choose what to eat. Before we went to eat, we learned about the founding of Zikrhon Ya’akov, during the first Aliyah, where Jews worked tirelessly to get past the British and into Israel during the late 1800s. This is when Great Britain had control of Israel and wasn’t accepting many migrants. 

Lastly, we drove to Atlit, the detainment camp where the refugees who were found during the second Aliyah were placed by Great Britain. They also have a replica of a plane that they used to help rescue Iraqi Jewish refugees in a covert mission. 

Finally, we made it to our kibbutz, Degania Bet. We were exhausted by this point, but ready for the next day of adventures!