Our Bittersweet, Emotional Farewell Havdalah Party "Shalom Haverim"

At Ben Gurion Airport before our return flight
Havdalah
Hunter's Israeli Family
Austin's Israeli Family
Maddie and Zohar's emotional goodbye
Sandra and Leora's Israeli Family
Maya's Israeli Family
Noah's Israeli Family
Maya hugging Yarin's mom goodbye
Schuyler and Melody say thank you to Gal and her mom with a

flower and a thank you note in Hebrew

The most meaningful experience of the delegation...

"I loved our first day at David Bloch to finally see our partner school. It was amazing." Maya
"When we saw our host families at the airport, I realized this was going to be a great time." Jamie
I loved Jerusalem and especially the Western Wall, because I recognized it from what we studied at school and it made it meaningful." Izzy
I loved the Dead Sea because when I learned about it, I always wanted to actually float in it." Austin
"The most meaningful time for me was spending time with my host, Zohar." Maddie
"The entire time was meaningful to be because I was in our Jewish homeland." Noah
"The most meaningful experience was our picnic on Shabbat, because we were a unified group."Tal
"I made so many friends, and I was happy to see the friends that I made while the delegation was in LA." Hunter
"My most meaningful times was to be with Sandra and my host, Adi before bed when we were relaxed, watching TV ad sharing our cultures." Leora
"I am sad to be leaving. The most meaningful experience was at the Western Wall because I felt close to God there." Sandra
"I loved the Bedouin Tet and learning how they respect guests and to be at the Wall it felt like heaven would feel" Melody
"The most meaningful experience for me was the warm reception at the airport.I was so excited to see my Israeli friends" Schuyler

The Judean Desert: Floating in the Dead Sea, On Masada, Hosted in a Bedouin Tent

Yes, anyone can float in the Dead Sea.

It is exactly what we learned in the 4th Grade.

There is so much salt, you can float!The special mud makes your skin soft!





On top of Masada.
The Bedouin tea is delicious and sweet.

They are amazing hosts, like Abraham.
Leora is making coffee for the guests.
The camel riding was an adventure.

Busy at David Bloch, our Partner School

Sandra demonstrates the use of David Bloch's Smart Board

during the lesson about Gilad Shalit, taught by

new librarian Tali, who the delegation adored.

Hunter and Nitzan enjoy a break from the busy schedule in David Bloch's new library.Austin with his host, Meytar, both in Bloch school shirts.
Leora enjoying the art class.

A Day in Jerusalem: City of Gold

The delegation with David Bloch's school guard.The boys over looking Jerusalem, on the Haas Promenade.
Each student dressed as one of the cultures

who lived in the holy city, Jerusalem.
In front of the Western Wall, on a very busy day.
The Women's Section of the Western Wall.
VP Joe Biden's very own secret service

with the student delegation.
Schuyler teaches the group about her Israeli hero,

Yoni Netanyahu, on Mount Herzl

Tikkun Olam Day: Respect for Seniors, Respect for Individual Differences

The VBS Day School students and their Israeli hosts walked to the community center to make breakfast for the seniors along with Tamar, Tilly and two surprise guest teachers. They sang, danced and created a beautiful note pad decorated in Hebrew and English with the values of giving. In the afternoon the students traveled to the Children's Museum in Holon to learn about communicating with a deaf individual. It was a powerful and memorable experience, to learn to communicate from our animated, kind and patient deaf guide, Golan.

The Dramatic Story of the Establishment of the State of Israel: Visiting the Bullet Museum and Independence Hall