Day 14 - JNF - Lehava - Kiara

After a late night partying, everyone was exhausted, however our moods soon shifted when we realised the exciting day that we had ahead of us.

In creative tefilla the girls learnt to look at prayers in a different way. Sometimes it’s not easy to relate or understand tefillot, however, when we looked at the prayer in a different light, we were able to connect on a deeper level. Personally, I really liked this new way at looking at the prayers as it made me appreciate the meaning of the tefilla more.

After a relaxing bus ride, we arrived at our first destination, Misgav Am, a kibbutz on the border of Lebanon. There, we learnt all about Lebanon, the borders, wars and history from a local, all while seeing it right in front of our own eyes. We then had a discussion on the current Arab - Israeli conflict. The contrasting opinions led to heated discussions.

We then got back on the bus, to arrive at Nachal Ayun, a beautiful hiking destination with 4 magnificent waterfalls, bordering Lebanon. We were surrounded by beauty, the trees swaying above us, the waterfalls glistening in the sun and the unique flora and fauna all around us. As well as enjoying the nature, we delved into exciting conversations with the people around us, laughing and taking pictures. We then had a delicious burger lunch, which everyone enjoyed.

We continued our scenic journey with a bike ride in Agamon Hachula Valley thanks to JNF. The people who knew how to ride bikes zoomed by us, listening to the birds chirping and cranes migrating before the winter, while the others rode around in golf buggies. We saw the birds sitting on the river and an unfamiliar otter animal called a lutrih. Being able to ride in the land of Israel was such a privilege, and seeing the magnificent nature made me feel proud that Israel is a place I can call home. After the 8.5km ride enjoying the wind blowing and the birds flying, we all bought ice creams and davended mincha. Thank you to the JNF for the amazing experience and for providing us with the opportunity to firsthand see the beauty and wonders of our homeland.

Our day didn't finish there. After dinner we all gathered in a room and played fun games that brought us together as a group (Lehava, the best side ever!!!). All in all, today was a great, educational, enjoyable, bonding experience and I can't wait to see what else is in store for the rest of our 6 week trip.

Kiara Miller - 1.12.2019