As the fifth week comes to an end I find myself caught. I really want to go home and see my family and friends, but at times I know how much this land (yes, even the Negev). Thank God I have taken so many pictures (one kid here has broken 1,000) I have absolutely no idea how to convey what I've experienced without visual aids and stimulants. As hard as I try I will never be able to commit this trip this page, lucky for you I won't try. I would, however, like to say something nice about the people in this trip so all the parents can be proud. From what I've observed they are all clear thinking, smart, nice and all-around funny and friendly. Of course at times patience wears thin, but the group is great. Maybe my expectations were low or unfounded but I have been repeatedly surprised at the innovative, creative, and deep personalities some people show. They all seem so adult like! Though, if they're like me they still feel like kids at heart, which, if you ask me is the only way to experience Israel or any new place for the first of fiftieth time.
Michael Greschler

The Small Things

Time has moved, too quickly it seems
Our journey coming to an end.
Here we sit in the cool evening air,
The past weeks gone by in a rush.
Now we must stop for the moment is here.

Let every second be an hour, every hour a lifetime.
Treasure this brief moment, and notice the small things.
Your friend's smile, the gentle sway of the crowd.
Every little thing is important, special in its own way.
Throw away your pains, ignore your sores.

See the beauty around you,
Smile at your friends,
Sway in the crowd.

Jonathan Anscher

Nick Levine's final poem of Israel
Day in Day out we travel this land
From North to South and East to West
What do we see? What do we experience?
We all see through different eyes

We all have different experiences and thoughts
Through hikes and lectures we learn and see together
But still what is it we're feeling,
What is it we're learning?
Do we know, do we understand
Sure, some of us do, but some don't
We look and learn, but do we love
Do we love this holy land, that we're suppose to so much
Do we feel so passionate about this holy land that we'll die for it

I know I'm confused
Confused about the land, about what we see and why we see things
The land is beautiful and diverse
The land is holy for all

The land is well protected
But how do we feel about the land we walk on and see
We don't all feel the same
We don't all see the same
Do we see it all?
Do we know it all?

Down in the dirt in the army
Walking heads high in the Golan Heights
Touching and praying at the wall
It all leads to the same people
People with the same religion
People we all can be tied to through thousands of years
But do we feel tied
Do we feel as one

On the Sabbath we sit and pray
We pray together as a community
We pray together in Israel
Israel the holiest land on Earth
Yet we still must question, question our thoughts, actions and experiences on the Holy Land of Israel

Nicholas Levine