אח יא ראב, יא ראב
אח יא וול, יא וול
סוף כל סוף הגענו ארץ ישראל

In one of the first songs in our Hebrew play, Sallach Shabbati, Sallach and his family arrived in the land of Israel from Morocco. Even though they had been weary about this significant change for their family, nonetheless, the Shabbatis felt excited, joyous, and, relieved to finally be in the treasured land of Israel, that they had heard so much about for so long. The final line of those lyrics,

סוף כל סוף הגענו ארץ ישראל

 directly translates to, “We have finally arrived in the land of Israel.”

Roughly three weeks ago, when we walked outside Ben Gurion airport and saw the swaying palm trees, we felt the same inspiring feeling that Sallach Shabbati and his family expressed in our play - we felt that same adrenaline rush and excitement because together, “We had finally arrived in the land of Israel.”

Our grade excitedly waited for our senior Israel trip for as long as everyone could remember. At Schechter, we have been instilled with a deep love for Israel, our Jewish homeland. We have celebrated holidays in school, learned about Israel with the Shinshinim, who visited and spent time with us every year, and completed Israel-related projects, while embracing Israel through our Hebrew and Judaic Studies classes. Whether someone joined Schechter in lower, middle, or high school, everyone anticipated our three-week journey, and had looked forward to bonding and experiencing Israel as a group and being immersed in the culture.

On our trip, we were incredibly lucky enough to have had the opportunity to travel from the North of Israel in Metula, all the way down to Eilat in the South. Our stops in the North were especially meaningful as last year’s senior class was not permitted to visit those same places because of the ongoing war and safety concerns. We were also extremely fortunate to be able to celebrate Yom Yerushalayim and Shavuot in Israel. Yom Yerushalayam was a spiritual awakening, filled with excitement, passion, joy, dancing, and, eventually, sprained ankles (sorry Elinor). On Erev Yom Yerushalayim, we walked to the kotel, arriving with thousands of proud, Jewish people. Moreover, we were able to hold an Israeli flag that covered half of the kotel area. At this moment, we saw the different sects of Judaism uniting and felt truly welcomed by the entire Jewish community. Like you would rarely see us in tefillah, we were deep in prayer and even begged to stay at the event even longer. The next day, we also went to a Yom Yerushalayim parade, which was filled with Jews from all over the world celebrating the city with pride.

On Shavuot, seniors also got the opportunity to be involved in leading programming for our all-night learning. We studied the importance of leadership, reflected on being American Jews, learned about current hostages and the need to continue telling their stories, examined art as an expression of grief, and participated in Torah study. All of these lessons allowed our grade to reflect on the current situation in Israel and what we can do to help in any way. The last program about the hostages ended with us singing Acheinu, a song about brotherhood and a call for safety, that definitely gained meaning for everyone throughout the trip.

As a result of the October 7th attacks, our senior class had a few additional stops, not previously included on Schechter senior trips. We had the opportunity to visit Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, a public space that has been transformed into a constant, living vigil. There were posters of hostages everywhere - faces of babies, kids, parents, grandparents, and soldiers. Families and friends of hostages pray day and night for the safe returns of their loved ones. We had the opportunity to speak with Abi Ward and Noa Rogoszinski, classmates and close friends of Omer Neutra.

They shared their experiences moving to Israel, living there, and how being physically closer to Omer makes their connection feel even stronger. They shared with us heartfelt and funny stories that perfectly captured Omer’s unique humor, kindness, and vibrant spirit. Hearing these personal memories from the people who knew him best truly brought Omer’s story to life for all of us.

Later, we visited Har Herzl, where we were able to see the names and graves of the thousands of soldiers who perished fighting for our country. We had the chance to speak with Omer’s cousins and see his name engraved among Israel’s fallen. Omer, who had been a student at our school, chose to serve as a lone soldier. Seeing his name there was a powerful reminder of how close these stories are to us and how deeply they touch our community.

At his Schechter graduation, Omer was chosen to share a reflection on Israel. In his speech, he spoke about Har Herzl, calling it his favorite part of the trip, a place that clearly meant a lot to him. It’s hard not to feel the weight of it all, knowing that the very spot he treasured most during that senior trip is now where his name stands forever. This will serve as a constant reminder of how life can change so quickly, so we must enjoy and be present during every moment.

Throughout the three weeks, we kept that in mind, making sure to prioritize spending time with each other before we all part ways next year. One of our most memorable activities was at the Bedouin tents, where our counselors, Neta and Nitzan, organized a meaningful program. We were taken to the middle of the desert, only being able to see from the light of the moon and stars. There, we had time to reflect on our futures, relationships we have made at Schechter, and our time in Israel. After that, we took water bottles and put our flashlights beneath them to make lanterns. It was beautiful to see everyone’s lights, reminding us of how each person is so integral to making our grade “shine.” Moreover, during that activity, we had one-on-one conversations with members of the grade, and we really enjoyed getting to bond with everyone on a deeper level.

Shabbat was another amazing way for our grade to strengthen relationships. Each Friday night would begin with an outdoor kabbalat shabbat. There, we were able to overlook beautiful scenery in Israel, while also welcoming Shabbat and singing prayers that we have been doing together since elementary school. Nothing compares to being in Israel for Shabbat - You really feel a sense of calm in the country - a pause that most people never truly take.

Our senior Israel trip allowed our grade to flourish and bond in ways we could have never imagined. We were able to stand in the same places as our ancestors and connect with members of the Schechter community, feeling Jewish pride and togetherness each day.

We think that this experience will forever shape our entire class - in big ways and in small. After all, every moment paves the way for the future. Also, now, we can finally sing:

אח יא ראב, יא ראב
אח יא וול, יא וול
סוף כל סוף הגענו לעתיד שלנו

We have finally arrived at our futures.