Roots Participant
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Stephen Muss (Miami)
When I heard we were given the opportunity to leave campus and continue exploring Israel I was so excited.
When I heard we were given the opportunity to leave campus and continue exploring Israel I was so excited. We were able to help farmers who were having a hard time due to Corona virus, and it was a very meaningful experience for me to give back to the land of Israel. Seeing the energy it took to harvest the land was very impactful.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Stephen Muss (Miami)
There I was, standing on what felt like the top of the world
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Stephen Muss (Miami)
This is a photo I took at the Golan Heights.
This is a photo I took at the Golan Heights. It was one of the most beautiful places I have been to. We left to go to the Golan last week to partake in certain volunteering activities. The volunteer work we did was different kinds of farming such as weed picking and tree shearing.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Washington State
The sunset this night gave me the realization of my love for Israel.
I think the Golan has the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. Over our latest tiyul, I really connected with the land. Spending all day in the fields, then coming back to a beautiful Bedouin campsite, fulfilled the experience.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
I know I have been in Israel for over a month but this was the first time I felt like I was truly here.
A lot has happened over this past week as it was the first time we were able to leave campus since the start of lockdown. Of course the excitement and energy was high as we were all ready to see Israel. While I had been having a lot of fun on campus with everyone I also was ready to leave and explore. I can only imagine how difficult it was to pull this trip off but I’m so grateful I got to go.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Washington State
Visiting the Golan Heights
Having class on a cliff with a miraculous sunset was unimaginable. I am incredibly blessed to have seen such an amazing view in the holy land. This moment connected me to the land on a deeper level. I hope that everyone gets to experience the feeling of security and happiness that I had that night.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Washington State
This past week we went to the Golan Heights for a volunteer tiyul.
As we were sitting there we were just watching the world go by. It felt as if I was the main character in the movie and I was able to live for myself. We sat there in silence for around 30 minutes and during that time I felt the most at peace I had ever felt before. I also felt a deep connection to the land and to Israel that I never had felt before. It felt as if I was breathing in the air of Israel, the breath of G-d.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Washington State
Spending the High Holidays in Israel was such an incredible experience.
Spending the High Holidays in Israel was such an incredible experience. I have always celebrated Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkot at home in the US, but I never really felt any connection to them. Usually, I go to synagogue for a couple of hours, think about the year ahead, but in the end, I would go home, and my day would go on just like any other regular day. These days that are supposed to be the holiest days of the year don't end up even feeling very special. I was looking forward to spending these holidays in Israel, but I didn't really know what to expect.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Stephen Muss (Miami)
Back home, the Jewish holidays were much smaller and familial.
As I sit on this hammock, staring at my reflection in the computer screen, writing this blog, I think back to all the memories I made over the past few days during the holiday celebrations here in Hod HaSharon.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Washington State
I experienced something that not many people have: I spent the holidays in Israel during a pandemic.
This life changing experience I had, walking in the middle of the street with the Hod Hasharon community made me feel so special. My Yom Kippur was the most meaningful it has ever been and inspired me to start new traditions similar to this one when I return home.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Washington State
I have to say it was probably one of the most spiritual experiences of my life.
We have been in isolation for the past couple weeks and as frustrating as this situation is, it’s honestly been going fine. I’ve made so many more friends and created so many memories over the past couple days. People I never thought of talking to are having lunch with me everyday. It’s crazy how much can happen in such a short amount of time.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Stephen Muss (Miami)
I now have a higher respect and appreciation for the Chagim.
Yom Kippur is, personally, one of my favorite Chagim. Despite not eating, drinking or using electronics the entire day, I find it a very rejuvenating Chag. You take a break from all of the activities that keep us busy through the days, months and years and focus on today and reflect on what you did in the past year. Back home my family would get together and play board games throughout the day and overall spend quality time together. That is one thing I missed a lot this year.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Stephen Muss (Miami)
My experience of the holidays was completely different than what I’m used to at home.
My experience of the holidays was completely different than what I’m used to at home. I got to spend it with my friends instead of my family. We got to participate in prayers and sessions which made it very meaningful. I got to meet so many new people that I already have so much in common with. In addition, we all fasted together which made it easier, they gave me support to continue fasting and get distracted throughout the day.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Washington State
I will remember this past Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur forever.
This past Jewish Holiday was definitely a very memorable experience. I will remember this past Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur forever. For starters, it was my first High Holiday in Israel. I had an experience on the night on the back half of Yom Kippur that was one of the most meaningful experiences I have felt in my life. There’s not really too many words to describe it besides ‘life’.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Stephen Muss (Miami)
Since the beginning of the Chagim, I have had countless amazing and memorable moments...
Since the beginning of the Chagim, I have had countless amazing and memorable moments, from celebrating Rosh Hashanah and partying with my new family, to sitting in a small group and sharing thoughts more intimately. This was my first time spending the Holidays in Israel and I think it made a major difference in my experience.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Stephen Muss (Miami)
I have had so many amazing experiences here in Israel.
I have had so many amazing experiences here in Israel. I am so grateful to be here in the holy land especially during the chagim. The fast on Yom Kippur has always been meaningful to me, but this year it was like never before.Read More
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Impact Fellowship Blog
Stephen Muss (Miami)
The past two weeks have been amazing; a true whirlwind of feelings of friendship, family, community, and a connection to G-d.
Hey blog gang, its great to be back with you! The past two weeks have been amazing; a true whirlwind of feelings of friendship, family, community, and a connection to G-d. Over the past two weeks, the entire AMHSI student body has been, and is still being, bounded to the campus as there is currently a lockdown in Israel. During this period the holidays, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, have come and gone while we have all been on campus, and it has been an experience I have never gone through in my life.Read More