The sun is setting on my fifth day in Israel as I write this blogpost, and its seemingly impossible to me that time has gone by at a breakneck pace (not to mention how easily I overcame jet lag). Even at night when we arrived, tired and beat up by the difficult 12 hour flight, I somehow managed to make 29 different friends prior to any formal introduction, and dodge a flurry of Israelis in the cafeteria- maneuvers that would have made even Muhammad Ali scout me for boxing.

Cleaning our dorm was the first time it felt like I was truly leaving Israel and HSI. It was emotional to clean out my room with my roommates and knowing that it was our last dance party together.

This past week, my class took a week off from touring around in Israel to learn about the Holocaust by visiting Majdanek death camp, Plaschau death camp, and Auschwitz I and Auschwitz Birkenau. At our first stop in Majdanek, we were told ahead of time that despite the infamous connotation with Auschwitz, that Majdanek may be the hardest stop on our trip emotionally. As we pulled up to Majdanek, I understood why we were told to brace ourselves.

While being a tour guide at Yad Vashem there is one principal rule all tour guides must follow: never, ever, bring your modern 21st century life into the Holocaust narrative. Tour guides are forbidden to compare or even contrast their personal lives with exhibitions in the museum. Quite rightfully so. It’s impossible for the countless visitors to relate to the traumatic stories of various survivors or imagine the hopelessness of a world without humanity. The Holocaust is such an emotional section in our history because while every jew learns about it in school very few, if any, truly understand.

This past Sunday, our group departed for Poland. Before leaving I really didn’t know what to expect at all. Because we are always so busy here, I honestly didn’t have much time to fully think about it and comprehend where I was about to be going and all of the history behind it.

The best feeling– landing back in Israel after being in Poland for a week. Although in Poland I learned and experienced so many things, nothing compares to the feeling of stepping back into our home, seeing my dorm, and spending the night with my roommates. In Poland we celebrated life, retraced Jewish history, and showed pride for who we are today.

As I read the words written by both Lexi and Meredith recounting their experiences at AMHSI, their experiences and the school came to life for me.

Having been a high school and college counselor for most of my career, I am an avid proponent that young adults learn to learn outside the four walls of the classroom.

Having had several students attend and having heard great things, I am excited for the opportunity to experience AMHSI firsthand.

I reflect back on what brought me to this point. I have been a school counselor in a suburban Philadelphia school district for the past 19 years. Our district demographics include quite a large Jewish population.

I hope to be take advantage of every opportunity I get to learn more about the Jewish Culture and the community.

As we drove away from the airport with 200 unfamiliar feeling shekels in my hand, I turned my head from left to right and back again making sure to take in all I could in my first minutes in Israel. I haven't traveled outside of the US since 1986 so the first thing that struck me was the Hyundai that passed our bus. And then the Ford, Chevy, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and so on. The world had certainly changed in a very tangible way...while the scenery didn't look as "shiny" as back home, the plethora of cars reminded me that we indeed live in a global economy. All of the concerns I had about taking this trip melted away as I knew then that at least on some level I was able to relate to Israel.

It has been nine years since I last was in Israel, which feels like forever. When I was last there (2007)I couldn't believe how much had changed in only three years, my previous visit. Now, nine years later I don't have the same expectations of what things will be like-what will be the same or different.

I hope to develop a deeper understanding of the opportunities and experiences that are available to students.

It’s been 24 years since my one and only visit to Israel. At the time I was a recent college graduate searching for meaning beyond the corporate world that awaited me back home. Up to that point, I had lived my entire life safely within an Arizona bubble, never seeking adventure for fear of popping.

Transmission of Jewish continuity and Israel connectivity does not take place in the formal classroom setting on its own. Israel and Jewish education must include an experiential component; it is through experientialism that our children explore and discover meaning that they can connect to.

Before coming to Israel, I would have identified myself as a Jewish American rather than an American Jew. I used to feel more connected to my nationality because I didn’t really understand how much my ancestors fought to remain Jewish and allow for me to be Jewish today. The Jews were constantly fighting Hellenism, both its culture and its reign. In Kislev during the year 165, the Jews reclaimed The Temple after fighting for it for many years. They won despite the odds and the candles of the menorah symbolize this miraculous military victory. The candles represent the Jewish people and the oil represents the Jewish energy that somehow managed to persist.