My past few weeks at Muss have been absolutely amazing! Right before Passover, we had the opportunity to make matzah in preparation for the holiday, and it was such a fun experience! I loved getting hands-on, learning about the traditions behind matzah-making, and just enjoying the whole process. The best part was singing and dancing to music while baking—it created a joyful atmosphere and made everything feel even more special. 

Later that week, we had campus days, which are some of my favorites. They give everyone time to relax, bond, and make lasting memories together. Then Passover began, and we had a 10-day break to spend time with our families and celebrate the holiday. When we all returned to campus, it was so heartwarming to see everyone again—it really showed how close we've become and how much we missed each other. 

This week, we eased back into our routine with one regular day of classes, followed by our first tiyul (trip) after the break. We traveled up north to visit the former Syrian army headquarters, which were covered in graffiti. Later that day, we went rafting—it was so much fun and the perfect way to end the day. Everyone had an absolute blast, and it was definitely one of the most fun activities we've done so far! 

The next day, we visited the Syrian border, which was fascinating, and then went to a lookout point over Lebanon. From there, we saw a village that used to be a Hezbollah stronghold and was destroyed by the Israeli army. Seeing something so close yet so different felt surreal—I had never seen Lebanon before, so I was really glad to have that experience. We wrapped up the day with a water hike, which was so much fun and something I had never done before, and then ended with DOTS (Dinner on the Streets) before heading back to campus. 

Overall, I feel so lucky and grateful to be part of Muss and to experience such an incredible program. It allows us to explore Israel while learning about its history and diverse culture. I thought I knew a lot about Israeli history before coming here, but in just two months, I’ve learned more than I have in the past 15 years. Alexander Muss High School in Israel has helped me connect with my Judaism in a way I never imagined. I’m so excited to see what else Muss has in store for me! 

Eden is 15 years old and a student at Lower Moreland High School in Huntingdon Valley, PA.