Dear NCSY TJJ Bus 4 Family,

Hello from JERUSALEM! We have had an incredible Wednesday and Thursday!!

After waking up so early Tuesday, not even spending the night in tents stopped the Bus 4 Family from getting a great night of Zz’s. As we left Chan Hashayarot (many were upset that we left on the bus and not by Camel) we went West towards Sderot. On our way to Sderot we stopped a Shvil Hasalat, also called “The Salad Trail.” We learned all about Israel’s agriculture and the types of vegetables they grow (you would not believe how many different colored carrots they have!). We even had a chance to taste some of the veggies while touring the green houses!!

Next, we had an eye opening bus tour of Sderot, one of Israel’s nearest cities to Gaza. The residents taught us about how they react to rockets being fired from Gaza and about their rock hard resolve in living normal lives. Following Sderot we made a visit to Tel Aviv’s Bar Ilan University and got schooled in Israel advocacy.

Thursday began on a very somber note as we started our day with a trip to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum and memorial. To try and put our emotions into words in an email would be very difficult. Seeing the history of such a terrible senseless genocide as we toured the museum and memorials was enough to make anyone cry, and the Bus 4 Family was no exception.

From Yad Vashem we walked a short way to Har Hertzel where we took in the military cemetery. We were moved by learning all about the different conflicts that the IDF has fought in and the people who have defended our Jewish State. The Bus 4 Family visited the graves of many of Israel’s leaders like Yitzchak Rabin as well as many IDF heroes like the Lone Soldier and American citizen Michael Levin. We learned about these political and military heros, their lives, and how each of in their own way gave everything to ensure a Jewish State.

After two very meaningful and powerful stops, we capped off Thursday by participating in Yom NCSY. Yom NCSY is an event where every NCSY summer program in Israel (including TJJ, ICE, ICE Israel, JOLT, JOLT Israel, Kollel, Michlelet, GIVE, and BILT) gather together for an evening some BBQ, music, and fun. It was amazing to see over 1,200 teenagers in one place. We enjoyed partaking in the delicious food and the laser and drum show were fantastic. Everyone also had the a chance to hear from and meet the International Director of NCSY, Rabbi Michah Greenland. The highlight of the night was the dedication of a brand new Torah Scroll!!

Thursday was truly amazing. Moving from the somber start to our day and building up to Yom NCSY was much like the transition from Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial day) to Yom Haatzmaut (Israeli Independence day) which are always next to each other on the calendar. It was a day that we will never forget.

Best,
Rabbi Chaim

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