Shabbat Shalom from NCSY Next Step Israel Internships!

What an incredible first week it has been!

After arriving on Monday night, our group headed north to the shores of the beautiful Kinneret, where we spent the week at Degania, one of Israel’s very first kibbutzim. It was the perfect setting to begin building friendships, creating memories, and forming a unique community together. We were also privileged to share this experience with eleven incredible Israeli peers through a special mifgash made possible by the generous support of RootOne, adding another meaningful dimension to the week.

From the very beginning, our teens jumped into every opportunity. Tuesday brought water hiking through the refreshing streams of Majrassa Nature Reserve, stepping back in time at Kfar Kedem where we baked fresh pita and rode donkeys, exploring an innovative robotic dairy farm, and experiencing the “Bunker Challenge” at Slingshot, learning about Israel’s early military victories. We concluded the day with our very first chaburah sessions, beginning what we hope will be a summer of meaningful Torah learning and thoughtful conversation.

On Wednesday, creativity and teamwork took center stage as everyone designed and raced homemade rafts at Dugal Beach before cooling off at Aqua Kef. We continued with visits to the ancient synagogue remains at Hamei Tveria and the resting place of Rabbi Akiva, followed by outdoor team-building activities that challenged our teens to communicate, trust one another, and work together.

Thursday, the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz, offered a different kind of experience. Our teens volunteered with children at risk, helping improve an outdoor garden, while others spent meaningful time visiting elderly residents of Tveria. We then explored the winding alleyways of Tzfat, visited Otzar HaStam, and met local artists who shared the beauty and spiritual depth of Kabbalah through their work. Before Shabbat, everyone shopped together for special treats, and we reflected on the significance of the fast: how the Jewish people preserve memories of our past not simply to mourn what was lost, but to inspire us to write the next chapter of our shared story. We concluded the day sailing across the Kinneret at sunset, a peaceful and unforgettable moment to reflect on the journey that lies ahead.

Today, Friday, we rafted down the Jordan River before traveling to Yad Binyamin, where we are excited to celebrate our very first Shabbat together as the Next Step family.

On Motzei Shabbat, we will head to Jerusalem, where an exciting new chapter begins as our teens prepare to start their internships, continue exploring Israel, and deepen the friendships and connections they have already begun to build.

This week was filled with firsts. For some teens, it was their first time in Israel. For others, their first overnight summer program, their first experience living in such a diverse Jewish community, or their first opportunity to explore Israel in this way. And for every one of us, it was the first week of building something new together.

Watching strangers become roommates, teammates, learning partners, and friends over just a few short days has been inspiring. Whether hiking through rivers, volunteering, racing homemade rafts, sharing conversations late into the evening, or simply looking out for one another, our teens have already begun creating something far greater than the sum of its parts: a caring, supportive, and vibrant community.

As we begin our first Shabbat together and prepare for the exciting weeks ahead, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to help guide these remarkable teens through what promises to be an unforgettable summer.

As a reminder, you can follow along with daily photos, videos, and updates by visiting our Instagram page and joining our Parent WhatsApp Announcement Group.

Wishing you and your families a peaceful, meaningful, and uplifting Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom!

Best,

R’ Jacob and the NCSY Next Step Israel Internships Team

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