Naomi Farahan of Carmel, Indiana, is a rising senior at University High School.  She is the founder and editor in chief of the U Post – her high school’s online publication, president of the Young Democrats Club and participates in a number of other activities.  Naomi has a close connection to Israel and has always been an advocate for the country.  This summer, she is traveling Israel with Young Judaea’s Discovery program, after receiving theHadassah Leaders of Tomorrow Award. This highly selective merit-based award gives two high school women the opportunity to receive full tuition for a four-week Young Judaea Teen Summer Program in Israel.  

 

It’s been more than a week since I last wrote, which seems impossible. The clichés are true – time moves fast when you’re having fun, but I also feel as if I have known these people for years. Time is warped here on the Discovery program. I fall asleep when I shouldn’t and I’m always slap happy and just when I think I’ve recovered from jet lag, my eyelids stiffen as if to taunt me. This culminates to provide me with the experience of a lifetime.

 

Our Teva sandals seemed to shuffle on their own as we lugged around Greece. The Parthenon, in all its glory, stood as an origin story for our society’s prized ideals. People from all over the world gathered to “ooh” and “ahh” at curves of the columns and the birthplace of democracy. Languages hummed together to sound something altogether unfamiliar. Words could be picked out, but the sound was a general reverberating appreciation of the Acropolis. Of the beautiful Athena and what is left of her city. We also hiked across three Greek islands with our tour guide, Adonis. Our iPhone camera rolls became National Geographic covers, despite our lack of technical skill. The scenery begged to be taken in, to be painted and to be written about.

 

As you might have read in my first blog post, I was nervous about meeting the other Discovery kids. I’m here now, sitting on the bus on the way to the Dead Sea participating in three conversations at once. I feel as if I have found parts of myself in the other kids here. We are all very different, and we come from different places – France, Missouri, Puerto Rico, and New York – but for many of us there is a quickly developing connection that makes each day all the more exciting.

 

We arrived in Israel on Thursday. As the plane neared Ben Gurion airport, strangers formed an impromptu choir. We sang Hallelujah and Havah Nagillah as we looked out the window. My friend, who is in Israel for her first time, found herself tearing up. The greens and reds outside our window were familiar to her. The soft beiges felt like home to all of us, whether or not we had been in Israel.

 

We met up with the Young Judean campers in Israel. They have known each other for years, and those of us who went to Greece just met last week. Together, though, we have formed an incredible group. Our counselors consistently urge us to ask questions – about faith, about Israel and its history, and perhaps most importantly, about what we expect from ourselves. The program has just begun and so many of us have looked at our lives from an entirely different angle. This is not easy to do.

 

Today we made it to the Old City, which came as a surprise considering the recent security concerns in Israel. The Kotel always provides a sense of solace, no matter how many times you have been. No matter what you believe, it is nothing short of incredible to consider how many people have found god there. Praying is a very humbling act. And here, at the Kotel, millions of people have found it in themselves to speak with a higher being. It was difficult for all of us to walk away. Those who had never been to the Wall said that they felt they had been there before. I find this concept to be intimidating and unifying.

I am really looking forward to having more of these profound experiences as the month continues. I am so lucky to know that each day will be filled with such meaningful memories. To read more about the Discovery program, check here for my weekly blog posts. Thank you for reading!

Jamie Smith of Lexington, Kentucky, is a rising Junior at Henry Clay High School and one of two Leaders of Tomorrow Awards from Hadassah, which awards a full scholarship to  young women to travel to Israel with Young Judaea’s teen summer programs.  She was introduced to Hadassah through her mother who is a past president of their local chapter. As one of only three Jewish students at her school, Jamie was excited about her opportunity to join Young Judaea’s ‘Discovery’ tour  to “explore her Judaism in the context of Israel and meet other Jewish teens who are leaders in their communities.”

 

Having just begun our journey in Israel, I want to talk about that. But first, Greece was amazing and I just can’t wait to tell you about it. We left the airport at 4 pm eastern standard time, and arrived in Greece at 9 am their time. That should’ve set us up for a rough beginning (especially because nobody slept on the plane), and we probably did resemble zombies, but we bonded over that so it turned out all right. The two hour nap also helped.

 

Anyway, by far the most amazing part so far has been the people. It only took a day and a half for us to feel completely comfortable around each other and that has been really cool. We have only known each other for three days, but we act like its been years. I am amazed by the strength of the bonds we have built so quickly. When someone starts dancing, we all join in and create a fun, open environment for ourselves. I love the people here.

 

Now, about the actual country of Greece. Although Athens was also incredible, the islands were the most fun and had the best sights. When you Google a typical picture of Greece, you see the cute towns on the mountainside and all the shops right on the water. This picture was the view we saw and it was surreal after all the pictures found on Google images. Long story short, I had a great time and I saw a beautiful country and I met a lot of amazing people.

 

But then came what the trip was really about: Israel. Before our first view of Jerusalem, we had blindfolds on (aka shirts tied around our heads) and we held hands and climbed onto a lookout spot. Finally, we all took off our blindfolds simultaneously and it was a fantastic moment. Well, almost. The sun was positioned just so when we took off our blindfolds we were blinded. Then, however, we saw a picturesque view of Jerusalem.  We were able to take amazing pictures with our amazing new friends, then we drank wine (grape juice) and ate challah. I think I can speak for most of us when I say we were very connected in that moment.

 

After an incredible Shabbat full of relaxing and bonding time, we started early this morning on our journey to the Western Wall. Our notes written on bright neon paper, we each walked up to the wall and put our prayers inside, like so many before us, and had our individual moments of connection with Judaism in the way that can only happen at that special place. What was almost more meaningful than my own connection, at least to me, was watching the others around me live in their own time and space of peace and holiness, if only for a second or two.

 

Now, sitting here on the bus looking out the window at the Dead Sea and the desert on our way to the Bedouin tents, I can’t help but think about how glad I am to be able to experience these connections with my religion with the people that are on Nitzachon with me.  Tomorrow we are climbing Masada and floating in the Dead Sea so I’m in for a busy (but fun, of course) day. I’ll be sure to tell you all about it next week!

Naomi Farahan of Carmel, Indiana, is a rising senior at University High School in San Diego.  She is the founder and editor in chief of the U Post – her high school’s online publication, president of the Young Democrats Club and participates in a number of other activities.  Naomi has a close connection to Israel and has always been an advocate for the country.  This summer, she is traveling Israel with Young Judaea’s Discovery program, after receiving the Hadassah Leaders of Tomorrow Award. This highly selective merit-based award gives two high school women the opportunity to receive full tuition for a four-week Young Judaea Teen Summer Program in Israel.  

 

Every time I prepare for a trip, a sort of nervousness stirs. Some of this has to do with my tendency to forget important details, like an extra pair of contact lenses. But for the most part, I feel uneasy because I know that soon enough, I will never be the same. I will have changed as a result of the coming experience. I will never again be able to say “I’ve never be there” or “I’ve never seen that.”

 

This is especially true for Young Judaea’s Discovery summer program. While I’ve been lucky enough to go to Israel several times, I have never been to Greece. More importantly, I have never met the 79 other kids with whom I will travel. It is nerve-racking, knowing that I’m going to embark on this journey with people that I’ve never met before. Will we stay friends? Ten years down the road, will we attend each other’s wedding as we look back on our awkward first encounters at airport security? I’m getting ahead of myself, but you see my point. Every experience we have change who we are, and I know that the Discovery program has the potential to impact my life in a big way.

 

I am incredibly excited to be going back to Israel this summer. The Holy Land and I have an interesting relationship. My first trip was in the fourth grade, when I went to support my older brother as he received his red beret and became an elite paratrooper in the IDF, and I immediately fell in love with Israel. Every visit is an immensely profound experience, connecting me to my family, to my roots, and to my people. I do not know if this connection starts when your plane lands, or when you touch your hand to the uneven limestone of the Kotel, or when you take the first bite of your first shwarma. It sort of just happens – it envelops you before you get the chance to notice that you have fallen in love. And it never gets old; it happens every time I go back. Israel is the kind of first love that is always new, always extraordinary.

 

I feel as if my brother, who has passed away since my first visit, beckons me to explore the same corners of Israel that he explored. He participated in the Discovery program as a high school student, and used to say that it was thanks to that trip that he formed such a strong connection to the land. I am honored to have this same opportunity.

 

While I’ve been to Israel several times, I am not exactly sure what to expect from this trip. I’ve never been a tourist with 79 other kids, so I’m going in with my arms and eyes wide open. My bag is bursting at the seams – we cannot contain our excitement, and I cannot stop myself from over-packing. For those who are reading this, I’ll update you once we arrive in Israel. Thank you for reading!