Senior Capstone Trip Blog

Sunday, March 5th:

After our lovely Shabbat in Jerusalem came to a close, we went back to our home in Hod HaSharon. The first day of the week was a relaxing yet impactful day. After hiking, swimming, and shopping during our first week in Israel, we were ready to give back to the community with a k'hillah day. We divided up our pack into two groups and engaged in two different activities. 

Our first activity was Dialogue in the Dark, a hands-on experience that gave us insight into the life of the blind. Each group entered pitch-black rooms with a guide. As we wandered through the exhibit we got to experience the day-to-day reality of the blind. The experience held extra weight as we’d just departed from the visually stunning city of Jerusalem.  

Our next stop was Save A Child’s Heart, a home which houses children from the developing world with heart conditions who come to Israel for their surgeries. The organization covers all costs for these families while children have surgery and recover. While visiting, we had the opportunity to meet, play, and engage with the children. We played sports, board games, talked, and even had a dance party with them. When it was time to go, we had made many new friends. 

Once we had finished our k’hillah activities, we jumped on our buses, enjoyed some bagged lunch, and bought Purim costumes on our way back to campus. We had free time for the rest of the day, which included an optional dip in the neighborhood pool. The night concluded with dinner on campus and time to pack mishlo-ah manot for all the AMHSI staff who keep our home in such good condition.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, March 6:

After a k’hillah-filled Sunday - we started Monday preparing for the Eastern Europe portion of our trip. We split into our Poland groups with two of our lovely teachers - Tom and Jeremy. We started off with discussions both about the Holocaust and anti-semitism, which were meaningful and got us ready and prepared for what was to come. To end these sessions, we began preparing ceremonies dedicated to the lives lost which we will perform at four different locations during our stay in Poland and Prague.

After a few hours of free time and getting ready for Purim, we - along with the rest of AMHSI - joined together for a ruach-filled Megillah reading. Once the Megillah reading ended, we moshed, danced, and partied late into the night to a plethora of songs - one was even our Zimriyah song. This party also allowed us to connect with some of the other students staying on campus with us, and expand our k’hillah. As the party came to a close, we returned back to our dorm, where we munched on hamantashen as a late night snack before heading to bed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, March 7:

Worn out from the insane rave that occurred the night before, our counselors generously gave us the option to sleep in on Tuesday. Some folks opted for an early-morning Megillah reading - but a belated 11:00 AM wake-up was a much needed opportunity to catch up on Z’s for many of us!

The first meal after we awoke from our slumber was a gigantic feast of cheese sandwiches and bourekas. This meal did not hit. Some might say it was a MISS. Fortunately, however, it was then announced that all of Muss would be going to Tel Aviv for the afternoon! We knew we would be able to find some good eats over there! 

While getting ready to explore Tel Aviv, our counselors warned us to be back at the busses exactly at 5:00 PM. This didn’t go exactly as planned. (Keep reading to find out why!) 

Once we arrived in Tel Aviv we split up into groups to explore the raging city on Purim. People walked around with costumes, partying, and dancing all over town. We explored Dizengoff for shopping, Shuk HaCaramel for snacks and food, and walked up and down the small streets finding small groups of people dancing. Everything was going smoothly. Until… 

After our check-in at 3:45 PM, a group of us foolishly thought that we would have enough time for a leisurely sit-down Israeli lunch about 15 minutes away from our meeting point. We ordered kebabs, and once it hit 4:35 PM, we still didn’t have our food! We started to get worried… Noam and Ella, Israeli superstars, came in clutch and talked with our waiter, sparking a rush in the kitchen which eventually brought our food out at around 4:48 PM. We scarfed down our Kebabs in a record time of 5 minutes and started our 15 minute walk to the buses at 4:53. We did not think we would make it. Once we got to the meeting point, we were happy to see our fellow classmates still waiting for the bus, and a sigh of relief lasted over us - even though we all wanted to stay in Tel Aviv all night. 

To end the night, we had a bunch of free time back on campus to relax, watch soccer, get ice cream in town, and even witness a Hod HaSharon Purim concert (which, honestly, we wish we hadn’t witnessed). Overall, it was a great Purim day!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Wednesday, March 8:

Another day, another adventure. After having had a relaxing few days, we were able to embark on a new challenging journey. We started the day with a brief breakfast and then began our journey to the south. This was our first time heading to the south of Israel, specifically to Ein Gedi. After a two-hour bus ride, we were all thrilled to finally arrive. Our instructor Jeremy regaled us with tales about his past with the south and then explained the two different options we had. The first option was a less strenuous water hike and the second option was a more intense, uphill hike meant to challenge all involved. 

The intense hike was four miles filled with numerous uphills and limited downhills. During the hike, we came upon a couple of waterfalls - and even got to get in one of them. This meant lathering up with loads of sunscreen. (Gotta be safe!) After going into the waterfall, we started our climb down the mountain and, at the bottom, we stumbled on a local kiosk. There, we bought אייס קפה and other various snacks to rejuvenate our spirits (and our stomachs). From there, we met up with the other group and enjoyed ice cream and a spectacular view all together as a grade.

Arriving at our hostel, we acquainted ourselves with the new sleeping arrangements for the night. We took advantage of the warm showers and changed into clean clothes. A bunch of us even went up to chill on the roof, enjoy the view, listen to music, and of course take more pictures. After a delicious meal, we stumbled upon new friends: a group of Druze teens also traveling around. With our new friends, we talked, sang, and danced. It was totally refreshing to experience this new culture firsthand. Even though this new friendship was surprising, we felt that JDS had instilled in us the ability to navigate new relationships and situations with אהבה (love). Shortly later, we packed into our hostel rooms and went to bed - with our legs tired, stomachs full, and hearts at peace. 
 

Thursday, March 9:

After a busy and active Wednesday spent hiking Ein Gedi, our adventurous spirits didn’t die down. Instead we woke up at an exciting(?) time of 4:30 AM. With some of us running on only 4 or 5 hours of sleep, we embarked up to Masada for sunrise. With no food in our stomachs, we were running completely on adrenaline. We started the trek up the mountain in a pack of all of us, and naturally split up. As we wandered up the mountain, we could see a wonder of different colors as the sun crept up against the mountains and over the Dead Sea. 

Once we made it to the top, we celebrated our efforts by snacking on a snack bag made by our madrichim which included a well-balanced breakfast of gummy worms, a strawberry gummy, a date, 2 dried apricots, a cookie, and one singular cracker. This was enough to fill our stomachs for the time being.

As everyone knows, summiting Masada does not count unless you get numerous pictures for Instagram. Believe us when we said that we saw every possible permutation of kids taking pictures with each other!

Masada isn't just a pretty view. After a quick yet meaningful Shacharit in one of the oldest known synagogues, we divided into groups to learn about the history Masada holds. The impactful story moved us and left us with a lot to think about for our descent down the mountain. 

After a quick walk down and an actual hearty breakfast, we hastily packed our bags and headed to the Dead Sea. The opinions of the Dead Sea were extremely divided. Some loved the freeing feeling that floating in the water provided while others despised the harsh sting of the water and the oily feeling it left them with. The creamy mud made many people praise the soft and silky skin that it left them with. After a long and tiring day the one thing everyone could agree with was that the food was GAS!!!!

As we boarded the bus and headed north, we all began to get excited for the Open Weekend on the horizon!
 

 

Friday, March 10:

After a long week of hiking, we were each able to spend free weekends with our family and friends in Israel. 

Coby: For my free weekend, I went to my family friend's house in Arnona, Jerusalem along with my friend Harry. These family friends have known me since I was young, as we met on my very first visit to Israel. After resting for a few hours, we brought Shabbat in by going to shul with our host family. This was an amazing experience as I was able to experience Friday night Shabbat services in a totally different way than I do at home. We concluded the night with a nice and relaxing home-cooked Shabbat dinner. I dozed off feeling refreshed. It was exciting to get a break from the AMHSI routine and just relax. 

Noam: To begin my free weekend, I went to see my uncle and aunt from Herzliya and spend Shabbos with them. We started off the day by going to a nice restaurant near the beach called Benedict. We had some good shakshuka and eggs and delightful drinks. Following that, we enjoyed the beach. As compared with some of the other beaches in Israel, this one is more calm and relaxed. My uncle and I were able to have some good bonding time. We spent lots of time sitting on comfortable chairs, drinking smoothies, and listening to music.

Later on, we drove to my aunt’s parents for an exquisite Shabbat dinner. My Aunt Inabr comes from a Moroccan and Yeminate household, so I knew the food would SLAP. There were a variety of different foods presented on the table such as: steak, schnitzel, meatballs, chicken, roast beef, etc. Quite the variety of different proteins to consume! My night ended early as I was immediately ready for sleep after the past week’s adventures and all the great food that was served at the table. 

Noah: My free weekend began with a lovely 9:30 AM wakeup. I sprung out of my bed and hastily packed my bags. I had an exciting trip to Jerusalem ahead of me. I caught the bus to Jerusalem with my partner in crime, Jamin, and plucked my airpods in so I could watch 2001: A Space Odyssey. We hopped off the bus at the chaotic Central Station and made our way to our hosts. After chopping it up with our host, we grabbed a lovely lunch. As we prepared for Shabbat dinner we watched the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball game and met friends of our hosts. The dinner was extremely filling and was a big reminder of how much I miss home-cooked meals. After dinner, my friends and I met up and chilled with my host and his friends. Exhausted, I crashed into bed and fell asleep.

 

Saturday, March 11:

Coby: The day started, as you can expect, with a much needed late wake up. Once we were up, we had an extravagant lunch with the host families’ children, spouses, and grandchildren. There were over 20 people there, and once again the food SLAPPED (as Noam would say). In the afternoon, I dozed off for a nice Shabbat nap, and met up with some friends down the street for a nice, leisurely Shabbat walk. 

Noam: For Saturday, I still had a pretty early wake up since we had a long drive down to the South to see my grandparents who live in Kibbutz Nirim. We left Herzliya at 9:30 AM sharp in order to arrive before 11:30 AM and hit traffic. We had a nice lunch with my cousins and grandparents which included: chicken breasts, rice, potatoes, סלט ישראלי, etc. I ended up taking an afternoon nap which was much-needed and then we immediately hit the roads again back to Herzliya. I had a quick dinner and packed my bags to return back to Hod.

Noah: After waking up from the best sleep of my life at 12:30 PM, I refused to get out of bed. The queen-sized bed was heaven when compared to the little top bunk I occupy at Muss. As I slowly crawled out of bed I was greeted with the smell of delicious food. As I floated towards the kitchen, I saw plates of all the leftover food from Shabbat dinner. After eating an unholy amount of leftovers, I was pooped. An easy rest day followed. Premier League soccer was in full swing. Occasionally, Jamin and I considered an activity and then immediately shot it down in favor of just chilling. As we boarded the bus back to Hod Hasharon I regrouped with all my friends from the grade, appreciated the free weekend I’d had, and fell asleep. 

 

XOXO,
Noam, Noah & Coby
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 1:

The day finally came. After 12 years of anticipation, our time to embark on the Daniel & Irene Simpkins Senior Capstone Israel Trip had creeped upon us - it was hard to believe. We vividly remember the enigmatic sensation that we felt, knowing that we were stepping a country 6,744 miles away from our home. After the traditional T’filah Haderech at the airport, we said our final goodbyes to our parents. Tears flooded for many. The interminable flight came to a close and we touched down in Israel just in time for a stunning sunset. We were greeted with world-class schnitzel sandwiches on campus, and we met our counselors, and got settled into our rooms. After popping some melatonin, it was time for sleep again.

 

Day 2:

Jet-lag prevented everyone from sleeping, so our section of Muss was popping at the wee hour of 5:00 AM. Everyone prepared their hiking fits extra early and some students even decided to embark on distance runs outside of campus. Following a productive orientation, we set off on our first of many Tiyulim: a mild but beautiful hike called Sataf that overlooked the hills of Jerusalem. We then stopped in Tel Aviv and went to Shuk Hacarmel and Nachalat Benyamjn, where we were surrounded by a plethora of fake clothing brands, arts and crafts, and gorgeous ducks. Many of us fed our appetites with laffas and delicious shawarma. Spending time in Tel Aviv was a great introduction to the buzzing culture of Israel. After a bus ride back to campus in Hod Hasharon, we had a pizza dinner (which was not quite as delicious as that shwarma), but we all went to bed feeling exhausted yet satisfied with a stupendous welcome to the Ertez HaKodesh.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3:

Fortunately today, most of us were still asleep at 5:00 AM. After waking up, packing our bags, and eating a phenomenal breakfast at the Chadar Ochel, we headed north toward the Gilboa region. After a quick stop at a gas station to fuel up on snacks, the bus winded through the steep but beautiful ascent of Mount Gilboa. After reaching the top, we got out and began the long hike down.

Throughout the hike, we were treated to beautiful views of meadows of blooming poppies and other wildflowers and the expansive green valleys stretching out into the distance. Along the way, we also learned about the interesting history of the land we were on, where Saul died during his last battle against the Philistines thousands of years ago. It was amazing to learn how the land that is so beautiful now also has such a rich history. After completing the steep and rocky descent down the mountain, we arrived at one of the great wonders of the world: the Sachne lagoon. We were blessed with an absolutely fantastic lunch once we arrived. After gobbling down pargiot, falafel, and kebabs, we went to get our feet gobbled by fish (with a foot fetish) that live in the refreshing waters. We got the massage we needed after the long and hard hike. The night concluded with our first night out into our new hood that is Hod.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4:

Today we had another early start for our jam-packed day in Yerushalayim. On the way in, we stopped at a beautiful overlook where we had a sweeping view of the whole city. After a brief history of Jerusalem and some musical performances by classmates on the outdoor piano, we headed toward the city of David (meanwhile the holy four stepped their yeshiva recruitment tour in the Old City.) In the city of David, we watched a 3-D video detailing the history of Al Quds and got to explore the ruins before embarking on the thrilling journey through Hezekiah's Tunnel (the tunnel built by King Hezekiah to give Jerusalem a steady water supply during the Assyrian siege).

After walking through the wide warren's shaft to get to the tunnel, it was finally time to enter the tunnel itself, which was a much tighter squeeze. Trudging through waist-deep water in the pitch dark, we were really pushing as we had to rely on each other to find our way through the winding, millennium-old tunnels.

After what felt like hours, a lot of singing and exclamations of YE SKIMS, and many bumped heads (especially from those tall folks like Ben (Sop de Botrom) Bass, we made it out. After that, we headed into the Old City, where we first walked around the ruins by the Kotel and learned about the fascinating history and architecture of the Second Temple. Then, it was finally time to go to the Kotel itself.

Between having our own moments pressed up against the holy wall, and witnessing such a diverse set of others having their own such moments, this was a very special experience. From the Kotel, we ventured to Machne Yehuda, where we had free time to walk through the bustling stalls, eat, and fuel the market to record-breaking kuffiyah sales (with over 15 of us copping fresh kuffiyahs). After a long day in Al Quds, we finally headed back home to chill and unwind after an action-packed day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, our plan to visit the Christian Quarter and Church of the Holy Sepulchre had to be postponed due to demonstrations in the area. We stepped a much different route instead. Cesaria was the perfect end to our first, exhausting week, as we bashed in the sun along the water and learned about the ancient Roman ruins that were spread throughout the beach. Then we had a drastic change in environment, as we dipped Cesaria and stepped Ben Yehuda street right before Shabbat. To welcome Shabbat, we walked from our hotel to the old city and enjoyed the holiest of KabShabs at the Kotel. Both the boys and girls ran their own circles of strength, showing Jerusalem what JDS is about. Our night concluded with a classic dinner and fun jeopardy game that was prepared for us by our Madrichim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We continued to relish Shabbat in Jerusalem - an experience serene like no other. Around 15 of us decided to visit a local Shul on Saturday. Mayanot, a synagogue perched in the hills of Rechavia, brought the ruach into our Shabbos. Little kids stormed the shul, and we happened to be lucky enough to catch a bar mitzvah as well. We spent our afternoon chilling at a park near our hotel, and we concluded our Shabbat with our first Havdallah together - the perfect way to cap off a magical first week in the Holy Land. We feel truly blessed to be here.