Day 13 - Shabbat and Kinneret (Lehava)

Shabbat. The one thing most people look forward too. It's a time for sleeping in, relaxing, getting all dressed up, taking lots of photos, and as Rabbi Benji would say, it's a time to "disconnect, in order to reconnect".

Last night was the beginning of our first Shabbat in Israel. We all put our phones away and we sat together in circles for a tisch. We all sat together, singing in harmony, and as we did this, we did the most important thing, and brought so much unity within each other. 

Since being in Poland, walking through the forests, the concentration camps and even the death camps was the most difficult experience a lot of us had been through, and that made our tisch last night one of the most special moments we have had so far in Israel. 

At school, having an incredible Jewish education, we learn that G-d created the world, and on the seventh day, allowed us to rest, and that is what we did today. We relaxed and played cards, and had good vibes all day. When it reached the end of Shabbat, we all gathered into the room and put our arms each other, and lit the havdalah candle. This was such a special moment because it pulled together the first week we had in Israel and closed it off  perfectly, making us more excited for the rest to come. 

Then the time finally came where we were able to go out to a lovely restaurant and eat delicious food, and straight after have the most enjoyable time together on a party boat on the Kinneret, enjoying the Israeli music as well as some top charts, and singing and dancing together. 

Being my first time in Israel, it has been so meaningful and fun with all my friends, and I've definitely enjoyed it all so far. IST is an amazing experience with incredible people, fantastic programs and a whole lot of fun.

Deearn