Masa Israel Journey Blog

Published : March 28, 2012

Nathan Wexler, BINA: Social Action and Study in Tel Aviv

While typing this letter from the small balcony of the apartment I share with the other international members of BINA’s Gap Year Program and Israelis from BINA’s Mechina, I feel so swept up in living, studying, and working here that it’s difficult to distance myself from the experience enough to reflect upon it wisely.

After only three months, this apartment, like the Secular Yeshiva and our unique neighborhood, really feels like home. I certainly haven’t forgotten what things are like back in the States, but this world and that of Tel Aviv and Israel in general has demanded all of my focus and presence of mind.

Every day, while living and volunteering here in Southern Tel Aviv, I learn more...

Enjoying Every Moment to Its Fullest

Published : March 24, 2012

By Yossi Sadowsky, Young Judaea Year Course

In Israel, you can take a bus in any direction and in an hour find yourself in a completely different environment, physically and spiritually. You could go from the Orthodox neighborhoods of Jerusalem to seeing completely unorthodox outfits on the streets of Tel Aviv.

However, Year Coursers know there is more to Israel than just parties and prayers. Just veer left or right from the center of this country, and you’ll find a different Israel.

Believe it or not, the average Year Courser’s week is a busy one. Come Friday morning, we all are covered in our bed sheets, until an alarm or a friend ruins everything. We get up, throw an overnight bag together along with some snacks and run to catch the next bus out of town.

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