Taglit Birthright Summer 2014 - After the Trip

Posted on 06/23/2014 @ 07:30 PM

Tags: birthrightsummer2014

Sipping on one of the best bad cups of coffee I’ve ever had. It's early morning and everyone else is asleep. I’m sitting on the back patio of an awesome unit one of my fellow Birthright participants, Hanna, booked through AirBNB, which would be a great start for anyone looking for somewhere to stay. Even though yesterday we left the group, today is officially Day 1 of extending. We’re on Gordon beach in Tel Aviv. We have to pick up our rental car at 4:30 a.m., and tonight/tomorrow morning we head to Eilat for some scuba and R&R. We’re coming back Thursday to see our other Birthright friends, Alan, Justin, and Anthony.

The best part of extending is to meet the Israeli soldiers again. Shavit, one of the soldiers who joined our trip, invited everyone for Shabbat dinner at her house, but I’m not sure everyone is going to fit. I’ve noticed that everyone, religious or not, likes to use Shabbat dinner for the purpose it was intended; to end the week, relax and get ready for the weekend. The culture here, just based on what I have gathered after one day, is very inclusive. Everyone likes to meet each other and it seems as if the chemistry is natural between people.

I’m off to make an egg pita, and to start another wonderful day in Israel!

Justin Siegel

Comments

There are no comments.

Leave a Comment

Preview

Title
Comment

* Required information

2025 Federation Grant Applications Open

2025 Federation Grant Applications Open

Applications are now being accepted by Federation for three 2025 grant opportunities: Women’s Impact Initiative Grants, Jewish Incubator Grants and the new Israel Engagement & Education Grants.

Read More

Helping Israeli Students in Distress

Helping Israeli Students in Distress

With the start of a new academic year, Federation is helping Israeli teens who have been traumatized and displaced since October 7 find solace and support in a safe, supervised school environment.

Read More

Miami Diller Fellows Visit Chicago

Miami Diller Fellows Visit Chicago

What was originally intended to be a transformative summer journey to Israel became something entirely different, but still very meaningful, for CAJE’s Diller Teen Fellows when they traveled to Chicago instead.

Read More

Learning Together to Help Others in Ukraine

Learning Together to Help Others in Ukraine

For more than three-and-a-half years, homecare workers in Ukraine have been providing life-saving support for tens of thousands of the country’s vulnerable Jews — the elderly, children, newly impoverished, internally displaced and more.

Read More

Stay in Touch

Receive news about Greater Miami Jewish Federation events and more.