Having returned to our homes, safe and sound, the flow of emotions begins to settle in. As we scroll through photos sharing our experiences with family and friends, we are just beginning to understand the positive, lifelong effects of our trip together. More than a simple update of the closing of the trip, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you.

– Thank you to the parents of our bus 4 family for sharing your children with us for the summer. They are an amazing group of young men and women that I was privileged to get to know them this summer.

– Thank you to the amazing students who made our Bus 4 family possible. We will never forget you and our amazing summer together. Please remember, our trip was an awesome introduction, not an ending. I truly hope that we were able to inspire you as much as you inspired us. Stay posted for the reunion!

– Thank you to NCSY for the decades of commitment to Judaism and allowing such an amazing trip to take place and flourish.

– Thank you to the West Coast NCSY staff, working year round to ensure a positive Jewish future. Your dedication to heritage is awesome.

– Thank you to the families of the staff for allowing them to dedicate their time and talents to strengthen and inspire the Jewish future.

– Thank you to our Bus 4 staff. I have had the pleasure of staffing many youth trips over the years and our Bus 4 staff takes the cake. I know it was not easy leaving your parents, siblings, spouses and children for so long. You are truly an inspiration to our students and me. Thank you for your late nights, your selfless actions and your amazing smiles. Our trip would not have been such an amazing success without you!

In closing, the summer was truly unbelievable. We toured together, we laughed together, we cried together, we grew together, and most importantly, we experienced our heritage in the holyland together. Bus 4, thank you for your passion, your friendships, your challenges and your genuine love of life. Having had the awesome opportunity to spend our summer together gives me hope for the future of our people, and our world. Keep shining bright and I know that together, we can change the world.

Love and Blessing,

Derek

P.S. One more day ‘till Shabbos!!!

Rabbi Derek Gormin
TJJ Bus 4 Director
gormind@jsu.org

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