Welcome to Israel, heres the desert.

No service. Two words most teenagers dread to hear. Those two words were told to me and the 43 other TRY chanicim (students) before we embarked on our first tiyul, trip, to the Negev Desert in southern Israel.  We had no idea what to expect of this trip, but many of us were excited to escape the seemingly artic conditions of Jerusalem. All we were told was that we would be riding camels and sleeping in mud huts. Typical school field trip stuff, right? We hopped on the bus with mutual anticipation and excitement for our upcoming adventures. After arriving at our first education stop for the day, an overlook of Be’er Sheva, a city marking the northern border of the Negev, we began to make Israel our classroom. We learned about how our ancestors utilized the land of Israel, in their time Canaan, to their every need. After this unexpected stop, we began heading even further south to a place called Be’erotayim, a desert city near the border of Egypt and our home for the night.

At Be’erotayim we were greeted with a line of camels and our two desert guides. Introductions and rules were given and before I knew it I was on a camels back gallivanting along through the land of my ancestors. After a lengthy camel ride, we got to our home away from home for the night. It looked exactly as you would expect a desert experience destination place to look like. Middle Eastern inspired print hammocks and tapestries were hung all around for relaxing and visual enjoyment.  Hunger quickly caught up to us and we headed to the central room for dinner. Low tables with huge silver plates covering them, surrounded by sitting pillows was the scene that greeted us as we entered the room. After quickly settling in at our tables, bowls and plates of Middle Eastern food was brought out to us and laid on the large silver plate. Hummus, oversized and homemade pitas, some type of delicious meat, Israeli salad and more were served in excecess to us. We schmoozed, and rejoiced in our days experiences over the delicious meal and ate till we were stuffed to the brim. We were given some freetime to relax and enjoy our surroundings while the sun set on the rocky desert horizon. A campfire was madesurrounded by more sitting pillows for us to relax and enjoy near. Tea and coffee were prepared for us, the sweet tea was in high demand by everyone present at the fire.

After relaxing with our friends, we all gathered as a kehila (community) around the campfire for some bonding and singing. Our madrich (staff), Milk, tore out his ukulele and began strumming well recognizable songs for us all to sing along to. Song such as Lean on Me, Wake Me Up, Riptide, and more were brought to life by TRY ’17 and the other Ramah staff joining us. We paused for a moment during some of the songs and were told to look up. It was a sight unlike any other. The entire milky way, and many constillations were displayed for us in a way one could only dream of. The sight was breathtaking and magical. The silence of the desert enveloped us as we looked at a sight that was much bigger than us, but a sight we could only find in the desert. After letting the moment sink in, we sang some more and began to slowly head off to bed.

In the morning we were greated with another incredible breakfast, and more tea. We daavened Scha’arit, the morning service, around the campfire and quickly headed out for another day of camel riding and learning. Roughly 20 minutes into our journey we stopped in a fairly flat and not so rocky area. All of us gathered in a big circle and were given a short spheal by our Israel Core Course teacher, Betsalel. He spoke about how our ancestors connected to G-d and the manner in which they prayed. He taught us that in the biblical times of Abraham, if you wanted to pray you spoke aloud to G-d. As simple as that, you talked and had a conversation. After explain this to us he requested we all leave the circle in silence and find our own spot far enough away from others that if you talk softly they could not hear you. We were told to leave all time telling devices in the circle. He asked we go and have a conversation with G-d, talk about anything we wanted, and take a moment for ourselves without any concept of time. We dispersed from the circle and headed into our own personal conversation with G-d. I looked around and saw my classmates spread out across the desert and quickly began my own conversation with G-d. I talked about my future, my frustrations, fears, aspirations and more. I had felt connected and I had felt like I was heard. It was a moment I will never forget and aspire to have more like.
After we heard Betsalel belt Ozi V’Zimrat Ya, a common jewish tune, we began to head back and reform the circle we initially had. Once reunited we discussed our experience while praying. Hearing similar and contrsting experiences of others formed another stich in our close knit kehila. We proceeded to complete some additional learning and began heading to our lunch spot. Once there we made a homemade, desert style lunch complete with homemade tehina, Israeli salad, eggplant salad and desert style dirt cooked Pita.  The meal was incredible ad rewarding since we had a hand in making it.  After the rugged meal, we headed back on the camels and proceeded back to our mud huts to gather our things, head to the bus and leave the desert. This tiyul was an incredible way to begin our journey here in Israel. We saw the incredible power that the nature of Israel has to capture our hearts and leave us in astonishment. If this was tiyul one, it can only go up from here. I cant wait to continue to be in awe of this country and see all it has to offer.