After two consecutive years of having to cancel their trip to Israel due to Covid, Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) has resumed the trip this year, and their 8th graders are having a blast!
They arrived in Israel on Erev Yom HaZikaron (the eve of Israel’s Memorial Day) and joined the Chaim Herzog Gimnasia school in Hulon for a meaningful Yom HaZikaron ceremony. Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) was spent in Tel Aviv/Yaffo where the students toured the city and then spent time at the beach.
In Jerusalem, they visited Mount Hertzel and paid tribute to Israel’s fallen soldiers as well as visiting Yad Vashem, Israel’s World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Shabbat was also celebrated in Jerusalem. The students toured the Jewish quarter and visited a couple of Shuls (synagogues). They also visited the Kotel (Western Wall), the City of David, the Kotel tunnels, and Shuk Machane Yehuda (open market) for many tastes and flavors of Israel.
A portion of the Israel trip is also dedicated to community service, and the students volunteered in a local food bank where they packed food for pick-up. And the trip is never complete without a float in the Dead Sea, camel rides and climbing Masada at dawn.
The students have started their journey to Northern Israel where they will take a boat ride on the Kinneret (the sea of Galilee), hike the Nachal Snir (stream), and kayak the Jordan River.
THA is very grateful to all our friends and donors who always help make this trip possible!
From students: “Israel has been an amazing experience. It is so cool to see so many different religions all living together and it so cool to experience how welcoming they are.” – Jacob
“Israel has been a very special experience because we get to travel all over the country seeing so many different religions and people.” – Samson
“I’ve had a lot of fun In Israel. I’ve gotten to go to the Western Wall, the Dead Sea, and have gotten really good coffee” – Kira
“I have loved my experience in Israel. I’ve gotten to know my religion better and even get to spend Shabbat at the Kotel. I have seen and learned so many things and have enjoyed every part of the trip.” – Lilliana
