[Israel Trip] Tired Kids

The kids are now in their rooms in Jerusalem, resting, showering, and having a bit of down time.  We went straight from the airport, after meeting Avner, our guide, to the Haas Promenade (Tayelet) where we could view Jerusalem and learn about the history.  We went from there to the Old City, seeing the Tomb of David, the Kotel, and much more.  The kids had lunch and went on a tunnel hike which was very fun for some and challenging for others...  After our free time, we will have a Sound and Light show tonight.  I am wondering how many will stay awake!!!  We know that by tomorrow, they will have had a good night's sleep and be ready for a special day in Yerushalayim..

Andy has been filming until Rabbi David gets here so you will be getting video but not right away...

Come Back and Go in Peace

שוב ולך בשלום

Come Back and Go in Peace

(Shmuel I 29:7)

It is Tuesday morning, March 29th. We are soon leaving for Israel! The 8^th graders, most of whom just finished performing in a spectacular play are probably at home packing and dreaming. They are dreaming of the next 12 days together, sharing our love of Israel, exploring the country, and bonding with our Israeli friends at Ironi Gimmel. Before long, our plane will touch down and we will be on our way to Jerusalem. For some, the pictures and movies they have seen will become real, for others, they will return to a place that means a great deal to them and to their families.

I have often said that there is nothing like the 8^th grade trip to Israel. Breathing in Israel with your classmates and teachers at an age that is old enough to be away from home and young enough to be in awe of the experience is unlike any other trip to Israel. Our students have been counting the days, and now we will work hard to capture each moment, to write about it, to video it, and to reflect.

It is an unbelievable experience to be a Head of School who has watched students grow up and to be away with them in an intense and meaningful way. Also, I love Israel so deeply and see it as a core part of my being and to share that is indescribable. We are lucky enough to connect with our sister school through science so our kids will be working in science teams, will be hearing great scientists, and will create new ideas, new thinking, and new questions.

Without Dr. Nitzan Resnick, we could not have the kind of trip that we have. Each year, she starts with a fresh pallet and designs a trip that is tailored to the current 8^th grade. While we visit some of the same places each year, it is with a different lens and a different emphasis.

This year, we have a unique class. Less than half of them have been in our school since kindergarten. The rest have joined at every stage of the journey and now have bonded into a class. As I am sitting here, I am wondering what questions they will ask, what will be most meaningful to them, and what will they share during our daily reflections.

We will write often, perhaps just a few sentences, and we will send video, and we will try to capture this experience in as many ways as we can.

Jane Taubenfeld Cohen

Head of School