by Rivka Werner, grade 10
Led by Rav Yair HaLevi, Team Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto has the privilege of spending an extra few days in Israel developing and forging our connection to our land.
Fresh off our flight, we threw ourselves into the trip with an inspiring trip to Telem, a Chevron army base. On the way we heard from Udi Zinar of Yeshivat Shavei Chevron about the Jewish community in Chevron and the surrounding area. We then had an inspiring siyum by Rav Yair at Ma’arat Hamachpela and went to Yeshivat Sha’avei Chevron for a quick tour of the building. We then went to the shalva centre in Alon Shvut where we dinner with the wonderful Shalva people. On Wednesday, we explored the brand new Shalva Centre in Yerushalayim and heard personal and emotional recounts of Shalva’s work. Then, we drove to Yad Vashem where we had a meaningful and introspective walk through the Yad v’Yeled hall which was built in memory of children murdered in the Holocaust. After that, we walked up the mountain to Har Herzl where we heard about a commander who fell in battle and the life lessons he epitomized. We finished the day with a pre race-pasta party and a spectacular concert composed entirely of Shalva kids. Already this trip is a truly life changing experience. Tremendous gratitude to Rabbi Grauer, Rav Yair HaLevi, Mrs Weinberg, Mrs Kagan, Mr T, Mrs Cohen and all our amazing chaperones for enabling us to have this memorable experience.
by Ilan Shields, grade 12
Friday was race day. The marathon was great. Running with Shalva was amazing and the unity among am yisrael was very present throughout the marathon. Runners were supporting each other, singing together and helping one another. After we finished the marathon, we went to the after-party to refuel ourselves. Then, we went to machane yehuda and got to experience the shuk on erev shabbat.
Shabbos was on another level. Bnei Akiva Schools brought the energy and showed why we are the best school. The meals were awesome and there was tons of ruach. The tefillot were beautiful and shabbos was a great way to bond with the rest of team shalva. Saturday night, we went to Cinema City, got dinner and then went to the old city where we had a beautiful kumzitz on top of Yeshivat Hakotel. We heard inspirational words from Rav Yair and Rabbi Reuven Taragin.
Then we went down to the kotel to daven and say tehillim. We finished with a final kumzitz filled with dancing and it was a perfect way to end the weekend.
by Rebecca Sacks, grade 9
and we joined Avraham in his tent. They served us some snacks, and we heard Avraham’s stories. We rode camels and had team building exercises like herding sheep and goats and trying to get water from a well. After this, we got on our bus to a water hike called Wadi Kelt. We climbed over rocks, jumped in the water, and watched as a big group of goats were herded by shepherds. We then drove to the dead sea and finally got to the hostel at Massada! We were all super tired and looking forward to the early trip up Massada the next day so we all fell asleep nice and early.
I’m not going to lie: I’m ready to come home – these past few days have been exhausting. However, I leave here with a 
quiet elation and palpable satisfaction that I’ve experienced a trip like no other. I’ve seen an Israel usually hidden behind closed doors, one that’s not in the travel brochures.
Today we climbed Masada, awaking at 4:30 AM without prodding, climbing the snake path as a community of all shapes and sizes, the ache in our legs all but forgotten when we witnessed the wonders at the top. A quick tour of the top of the mountain all but confirmed that miracles do happen.
It’s hard to beat the magic of Masada – with its deep history and unparalleled majestry – not to mention the sense of accomplishment in conquering its physical challenges, but the afternoon offered what might have been the highlight of the trip – a tour of an Air Force base. Maybe it was our tour guide – one of own -Gidon Meyer, class of 2013 – who in addition to sharing the excitement of his job in the Air Force intelligence, received his sergeant stripes in front of a proud and cheering alma mater. An intimate look of a surveillance plane no doubt inspired a handful of students to perhaps follow in his footsteps.
We’re a tired lot, exhausted by the breadth and depth of our near week-long experience. I suspect we’re all ready to go home, especially knowing that this unique experience of Israel will be with us for some time.
