We began our journey at the Kineret and ended at the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
Each day was filled with a new challenge. My favorite day was the last day. We started out the morning with a short hike, and before noon we were relaxing in a shaded spring. We stayed there for a while hanging out and making lunch. Then we walked for a short five minutes to a parking lot where bikes were waiting. For the next 45 minutes or so we biked through greenhouses full of bananas ending up at the Mediterranean Sea. Covered in dirt from the past four days we all ran to the beach to relax. The day came to an end with a delicious dinner and services on the beach.
Although the last day was my favorite, my favorite moment on yam l'yam was the night before. Once it was dark, our guide, Nemo, took us to a nearby trail and dropped us off one by one, giving us our own space. We got to sit by ourselves for about a half hour. This time was very meaningful to me. I felt very calm and connected to Israel. It gave me time to think about why I decided to come back, and what part I want Israel to have in my future.
I really enjoyed yam l'yam. It helped me become closer with the group, Israel, and even myself. What was your favorite moment on the trip? How did yam l'yam impact your connection with Israel?
My favorite moment on the trip was on the first day when, though it was challenging, I never felt like giving up and never felt like quitting and I was able to just enjoy the weather and the view.
ReplyDeleteAfter yam el yam, I feel an extremely strong connection to the Land of Israel. I feel that exploring the country from one end to the other was the perfect way to encapsulate the true and extreme beauty within the land. By removing external factors and things like technology and phones, we were able to experience the land without the pressures and distractions caused by our phones. It was a truly meaningful way to connect to the land and form even deeper and stronger connections with my classmates.
The part of Yam l'Yam I enjoyed the most was the opportunity we were given to learn some basic navigation skills. The first time we split up into our navigation groups were my favorite moments on the trip; I loved the sense of accomplishment our group experienced at every landmark.
ReplyDeleteYam l'Yam strengthened my connection to Israel through my new knowledge of the trans-Israel trail. I really love the way the entire country is mapped out in such a logical way. The way the trail was marked made a lot of sense to me, which made hiking Israel feel very straightforward and natural. Hiking more of the trans-Israel trail is something I would love to do.
My favorite part of Yam l'Yam was at the end of each day, after hours and hours of hiking, everyone came together over dinner. We reflected over the day or sang songs with Benny, our security guard. Everyone was happy with themselves for getting through that day's hike and everyone was relaxed.
ReplyDeleteYam l'Yam had a large impact on my connection with Israel. While observing the nature, I thought to myself about how beautiful everything was. I am proud to have Israel as my religion's home and center. There aren't many places where I can be in a city and drive only a short time and be in the complete wilderness. Yam l'Yam increased both my connection and appreciation for Israel.
Although I wasn't very happy with waking up every few hours due to the rocky ground at night, my favorite moment of the trip was rising at 6.00 or so to go for a walk on our last day. I just followed a tar path alongside the mountains, looking at the nuf. To my right were sloped forests, and to my left were campgrounds. About fifteen minutes into my walk I saw a few cows lazing around, and just a bit farther were two different packs of coyotes that stuck around even with my presence. The diverse wildlife was what impacted me most. On yam lyam I saw birds, lizards, coyotes, cows and boar, most of which you can't find in Southeast Pennsylvania. The familiar woods coupled with unfamiliar animals will stay with me for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI would love to say I experienced a favorite moment during ים לים, but if I answered that, I would be humoring you and myself included. I did have moments I rather did not like too well such as using the bus to get from point A to point B, but I lived and therefore I won't let that ruin my experience. In the end, I loved the trip and to pick out a favorite moment of the trip would be like ignoring all the other fantastic moments of it as well.
ReplyDeleteThe impact ים לים had on me was probably not only a stronger connection with ישראל, but with the whole world. It brought me closer to nature. To areas where even if I tried, I would not be able to hear the sound and rumble of urban areas. It has also made me realize that in the near future, hopefully, I'll be able to go backpacking around the world.
My favorite moment of the trip was last day. On that day we had already been hardened veterans and we were no longer trying to figure out everything, rather we were able to get a lot more out of nature and start forming a lot more of connections with our group members. That whole day meant a lot to me and to end off that day with Nemos half an hour of silence alone was life changing.
ReplyDeleteYam l'yam made my connection with israel a lot more meaning full. I began to understand why it meant so much to people to live in the land. i believe that later in the future i will hope to travel on all the paths and get an even longer experience in israel.
My favorite part of the trip was when after a long day's journey we all got the night to relax and spend time together free of most electronics and actually talk about stuff. I think in some instances it was a good bonding opportunity. In terms of my personal connection with Israel, I feel like being exposed to all the nature and elements that made up the natural parts of Israel. Which I thought were pretty cool but all in all, I just think we got to be closer with the land and it's people on this trip which for me is definitely connection enough.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of the trip was after we had gotten to our final campsite, and we got to go into the Mediterranean Sea. I have a personal connection with the beach and a lot of my life happens at beaches. To come out of a long and tiring week and to be rewarded with the peace of just floating in the ocean was very special to me. I came away from that peaceful experience with the notion of "sea otter vibes". Sea otters are happy creatures who are content just floating around as long as they have a hand to hold.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite moment of our Sea to Sea hike was on the last night once we had reached the Mediterranean. Having Shabbat on the beach was absolutely breathtaking. I have not yet felt a stronger connection to Israel then when we all sang the Shama as the sun set over the glistening water. Not having running water for a week gave me such an appreciation to be able to come together and end our somewhat challenging journey both physically and mentally next to the Mediterranean. Overall I feel that Yam l' Yam allowed our EIE family to create closer bonds with individual and it most definitely gave us all more patience for one another.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite moment on ים לים was all the moments with our security guard Benny after a day of hiking. Benny was so cool! He’d sit and hang out with us and jam out on his guitar and we’d sit by the fire. One night Benny, Max, Amit, and I just sat next to the fire and talked for about an hour. It was really nice to get to know the person that was keeping us safe, and we got to hear some pretty funny stories from him. I felt like ם ל’ם' connected me to Judaism more than I expected it would. I think the part that connected me the most was when we had the alone time in the woods, and I had a nice opportunity to reflect on everything about myself, including my journey as a Jewish teenager finding my connection with Israel.
ReplyDelete-Rachael Coleman
My favorite moment of the trip is tied between two things. The first thing that I really loved was after the four days of hiking we finally got to the mediteranean sea which was amazing. We all ran into the sea and realized how cool what we just did was. It's an incredible feeling hiking for 4 days straight without electricity or phones. I was definitely very proud of myself and I remember feeling very acomplished. The second moment was during the third day and we were walking with our groups and Marina yelled and there was a horse standing in front of her, it was hilarious.
ReplyDeleteZoe
DeleteI'm so glad to hear you all had such a great experience on Yam L'Yam!! It really seems like you guys all gained an appreciation for this land, nature, the EIE group and yourselves. Yeshar koach Lexi and everyone else for sharing so beautifully!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite moment of the trip was the feeling of completing last actual hike we did before going to the beach to camp out there. Being in a group with people I hadn't usually talked to, I had so much fun bonding with them. It really helped me expand my horizons and it was definitely an adventure to complete Yam for the second time. I had so much fun and a great experience.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of Yam L'Yam was on the last day when finally reached the Mediterranean after five days of hiking and no showers. I felt a great sense of accomplishment from when the group started off at the Galilee to when we made our final bike ride to the Mediterranean. Being in nature allowed me to get closer to Israel, the group, and myself because of our many exciting memories and experiences.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of Yam L'Yam was on the last day when finally reached the Mediterranean after five days of hiking and no showers. I felt a great sense of accomplishment from when the group started off at the Galilee to when we made our final bike ride to the Mediterranean. Being in nature allowed me to get closer to Israel, the group, and myself because of our many exciting memories and experiences.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite moment of Yam lyam was the hour of silence that we did with Nimrod, just being quiet and with my thoughts was very helpful , and I very much enjoyed it. The hikes themselves were very interesting, taking me places where I most likely wouldn't go to otherwise when I visit. It also gave me a better chance to talk with people who I don't communicate with that often, and teaching me to rely on them.
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