Sunday 4th: Coming to an End

Next up seemed to be the moment we’d all been waiting for; you could feel the excitement in the air as the group came to realize that next up was… the helicopter ride! In small groups we got ready to board the helicopter and were taken up in the air for a breathtaking, bird’s eye view of Jerusalem. The view was spectacular and the experience incredible! After travelling the length and breadth of Israel on foot, in water and by coach, this was a unique and unforgettable opportunity that added another dimension to Israel.

After coming back down to earth we continued our love of volunteering by giving back to Israel one last time on our trip at Yad Sarah. Yad Sarah is the largest voluntary organization in Israel, and provides a spectrum of free or nominal cost services designed to make life easier for sick, disabled and elderly people and their families. The whole group, as usual, got into the volunteering spirit and seemed to get a lot out of it. 

We went off to the Kotel for a final time and a closing ceremony  which was a very powerful way to end Tribe Israel Tour, at the centre of Israel and the Jewish people worldwide. We came at the start of the trip with hardly any knowledge of Israel and Jewish History and are leaving with a wealth of knowledge and inspired by our homeland.

We had a gala dinner back at the hotel which was a wonderful way to end, as well as having a farewell party. Each one of us spoke briefly about what we had got out of tour, what we will take forward and such lovely things were said by all. The night wasn't over yet though! The party continued before we prayed an early Shacharit and ended with a powerful group rendition of the Israeli national anthem - the Hatikvah - before we boarded the coach to the airport!

Sadly, our time has come to an end. We have all had a fabulous time with wonderful experiences which we will always remember. We can’t wait to get back and tell our family and friends all about our time on Tribe Israel Tour. 

Shalom and lehitraot,

The Tribe Team

Friday 2nd: Our final Shabbat

On Sunday we enjoyed some more Jerusalem scenery with a hike in a picturesque area in the Jerusalem Hills to a place called Kastel, the ruins of a Crusader castle located on a hilltop close to Jerusalem. From there we went to Ha Radar, a lookout from where we could see for miles and miles across Jerusalem. 

After over two weeks in Israel the whole group had lots to reflect on so we headed to the Kotel, the Western Wall, for a moment of reflection before getting ready for Shabbat. It was a chance for us to take a moment for themselves at the holiest place on earth for the Jewish people. It really was a special sight to see the whole group standing in front of the Kotel and it was one of the most spiritual highlights of tour so far. It was absolutely packed with all sorts of people descending on Jerusalem before Shabbat.

Trying to capture some more of the Jerusalem spirit, we headed to the shuk also known as Machane Yehuda,  famous for its hustle and bustle and haggling opportunities! We were given money to buy lunch and enjoy the various culinary delights of the market.

We then went back to the hotel to prepare ourselves for what we knew would be an inspiring final Shabbat on Tribe Israel tour.

Saturday 3^rd

Friday night dinner was one which we will never forget. Along with David Collins and Rabbi Gideon, we had the opportunity to sit in the Old City at the most spiritual time of the week, in the most spiritual city, while we ate, sang and chatted. After dinner we walked back down to the Western Wall Plaza and everyone was struck by the stark difference between how packed it had been earlier and how empty it now seemed. The Kotel has the power to evoke such different emotions depending on whether it's busy or empty. 

 On Shabbat day after davening we had a session of games and discussions before lunch and then we went on walking tour of the Jerusalem neighborhoods. It was really special seeing how all the different types of people – Orthodox, Ultra-Orthodox, secular, Arab and tourists – and areas, come together to make this city so wonderful.

As Shabbat went out we had another special seudah shlishit  (third meal) singing songs that the we had learnt, followed by a beautiful havdalah to bring out our last Shabbat of Tour.

On Saturday night we got to experience the buzz and excitement of Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall on its busiest night, which the group really loved!

The Tribe Team

Thursday 1st: An Emotional & Inspiring Day

Today was an extremely powerful day, as we visited Yad Vashem – Israel’s national Holocaust memorial and exhibition.

Yad Vashem is a unique museum as it really has transformed Holocaust memorial for the twenty-first century. Yad Vashem presents the story of the Holocaust from a unique Jewish perspective, emphasizing the experiences of the individual victims through original artifacts, survivor testimonies and personal possessions. It allows the individual victims the chance to become people in their own right with a story of their own, taking in past historical fact and enables us to truly feel what we lost as a people. We had an incredibly interesting and moving tour led by Rabbi Shaw around the museum. 

One of the last exhibits we went to is called the Hall of Names. This is the Jewish People’s memorial to each and every Jew who perished in the Holocaust; a place where they may be commemorated for generations to come. The powerful exhibit features images of faces and the sound of names as they’re read out. It was a moving moment for the group standing there together and Yad Vashem was an experience which we will be taking with us for the rest of our lives.

We moved on from the horrific deaths suffered in the Holocaust to Mt. Herzl, where those that have died defending the Jewish State, born from the ashes of the Holocaust, are buried. Mt. Herzl is not only the spot in which Theodore Herzl’s tomb is situated, the founder of modern Zionism and the most influential of all campaigners for a Jewish State, but also where Israel’s military cemetery and ‘the nation’s great’ are buried. Though a cemetery, Mt. Herzl is a testament to the strength and accomplishments of the State of Israel and is a life-affirming site as well as an emotional one. Here we saw the graves of Israel’s Prime Ministers and Presidents as well as many of the graves of soldiers killed in the line of battle. 

We went from learning about the disaster and destruction depicted in Yad Vashem to seeing the miracle of modern Israel and inspirational stories of Israel’s achievements in its mere 65 years at Mt. Herzl – it was a wonderful juxtaposition.

As the sun went down and the group thought the day was over, we announced a special surprise! We boarded the coach and went on a special late-night visit to the Kotel tunnels! The Kotel tunnels are underground tunnels that expose the full length of the Western Wall including the part of the wall said to be closest to what was the Holy of Holies of the Second Temple. It was a truly unique experience and the whole group loved it.

The Tribe Team

Wednesday 31st: Pioneers of our State

Today we started our journey back towards the centre of Israel travelling along the beautiful Mediterranean coast. We had a relaxed morning on the beach chilling out and playing some games on the sand.
Next was the Atlit detainee camp, a detention camp that was established by the British at the end of the 1930s. The camp was established to prevent Jewish refugees known as ‘Ma’apilim’, mainly Holocaust survivors, from entering what was then the British Mandate for Palestine. We watched a fascinating and entertaining re-enactment of one of the boats sailing to the beach and the Ma'apilim arriving at the camp.
After that we travelled to Zichron Ya’akov, a picturesque city with cobbled paved streets. Zikhron Ya'akov was one of the first Jewish settlements of pioneers in the country, founded in December 1882 by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild and named in honor of his father Jacob. First Aliyah tour of the city 1882 when 100 Jewish pioneers from Romania
After Zichron Ya’akov we headed back onto the coach for our drive back down to Jerusalem where Rabbi Shaw came to meet us to lead a preparation and thought provoking session for our visit to Yad Vashem tomorrow.
The Tribe Team

"Ummmmm the beach was very sunny and relaxing after a night of camping. After the beach we went to Atlit which was really interesting, it was about how Jews from after the Holocaust came to Israel and it was also interesting to see how the British army treated people in Israel. Zichron Yakov was cool it was great to learn about how passionate people were about creating the state of Israel. We also saw the amazing Anna and made her skip around a tree. Then we went to Jerusalem and checked into the Ramada - cant wait for a good night sleep. Finally we saw Rabbi Shaw who spoke to us about Yad Vashem and prepared us for our visit there tomorrow." Georgia silver

Tuesday 30^th: “Eey Or”

Today we began our adventures early to climb up Mount Arbel to Wadi Hamam. Mount Arbel is a mountain in the Lower Galilee near Tiberias with a view of the snow-topped Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights. It is close to the ruins of an ancient Jewish settlement with a Synagogue from the 4th century C.E.

We then headed to Kfar Kedem where we got our drivers licenses – not for cars – but for donkeys! Kfar Kedem recreates the day-to-day life of the ancient land and we were transported back to our heritage learning how to thresh grain, press oil and grapes, and eat rustic cooking in a shepherd’s tent. Riding donkeys whilst being dressed up was definitely an interesting experience!

Afterwards we visited Tzippori, the place where the Mishna was written. Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi, who compiled the Mishnah, lived in Tzippori for 17 years until his death. The town is mentioned many times in the Talmud as a Jewish city having 18 synagogues. In one of the Talmudic mentions the question is asked as to why Tzippori is called by that name? The Talmud answers that it is a city that sits on top of a mountain like a bird (Tzippor is the Hebrew for a bird). Tzippori has about 40 ancient mosaics that have been discovered during various excavations.

After hiking, donkey riding, and a historic day we headed for a sleepover under canvas. We really enjoyed the beautiful sunset and camping out under the stars once again was a really special experience.
The Tribe Team

“The thing that stood out for me was the donkey riding it was brilliant and very different. The hike was good and fun. Camping was uncomfortable but still a great experience. Great day all round” Joseph Gilmore

Monday 29^th: Wet & Wild

We started off our day with a hike through the Yizpor Valley – this is a fantastic water hike which was great fun. We all got to splash around and cool off in the water even if it was a little bit muddy.
Next we went to Mount Gilboa which is a mountain range overlooking the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel. We looked out at the region and mountains from Mount Barkan where King Saul, Israel’s first monarch, led a charge against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa. The story is a tragic yet gripping one where the battle ends with the king falling on his own sword and Jonathan being killed in battle.
Our day continued with a visit to the Emunah Children's Centre in Afula. This is a school designed to take care of and help some of Israel’s most needy children and provides a residential and therapeutic day care facility for children at risk. The Emunah Children's Center strives to provide the children with a safe and nurturing environment. Here we made up and performed a joint play together with the disadvantaged children. It was a great success and had a huge impact on all of us! For more information on the school, please see the link to their website below: http://www.emunahafula.org/
The Tribe Team

“The water hike was lots of fun. Seeing the observation point and listening to David’s story was interesting. Going to the children’s centre really put things into perspective and we could see how much of an amazing job the people working there are doing as well as how grateful the kids are after knowing such hard times at such a young age.” Nathalie Freedman

Sunday 28^th: Magic and Mysticism


Today was a very quirky day with Tribe Israel tour! We started our day with a tour of the artist’s quarter in Tzfat, which was extremely beautiful and quaint. We then had the opportunity to meet with some of the local artists. We heard about their specific art specialties and what inspires them to produce such wonderful pieces of artwork.
Afterwards we went on a magical, mystical tour of Tzfat. Tzfat is a very well known and interesting but was one of the later places for Jews to settle in, becaming an important city for Jewish life in the late 15th Century. The city is most closely associated with Jewish mysticism, the kabbalah, whose foremost teacher, Rabbi Isaac Luria, lived and taught there. Known as "Ha'Ari" (the lion), Rabbi Luria had come from Egypt to Tzfat in 1569 and died just three years later. Besides the kabbalists, Tzfat also attracted numerous other Jewish scholars and spiritualists, including Joseph Caro, the author of the Shulchan Aruch , Rabbi Moshe Cordovero and Solomon Alkabetz, composer of the Sabbath hymn Lecha Dodi. We heard their stories and visited some of the beautiful shuls, all decorated in blue.
After touring the old city of Tzfat we went on beautiful hike overlooking the Golan. The views were amazing and we all got to take some great pictures.


Our day ended with a tour of the village Pki'in where we enjoyed an amazing Druze feast. The Druzim are an amazing people and contribute fully within the State of Israel. They serve in the IDF and have attained top positions in Israeli politics and public service. The Druzim live mainly in the north of the country and are Arabic-speaking.

Today was an very interesting day; it was extremely diverse and provided us all with a lot to think about. Everyone is having an amazing time and we're all looking forward to everything that's yet to come!

The Tribe Team

“The old city of Tzfat was a very special and mystical place. We met one artist called Abraham who was very interesting to talk to. The hike was also really cool, we were very close to an army base where we could see a satellite moving around and gathering intelligence. The Druze are very special people and the atmosphere at the village was beautiful. The Druze are very secretive and interesting and it was great getting to meet them.” Amy Phillips

Friday 26th & Shabbat 27th: Biking through the Valley


Friday:
After storing up energy at breakfast we geared up for a really fun bike ride through the Hula Valley. We worked up a sweat and everyone took it at their own pace – some of course proving their worth by racing to the finish! We got to see some breathtaking views on a different mode of transport to the usual coach!
Our next stop was Tel Hai, where we heard the story of pioneer heroism. The Battle of Tel Hai took place on 1st March 1920 and was significant far beyond the small number of fighters that were involved on either side. The battle has both inspired an enduring heroic story and profoundly influenced the military and political strategies over several decades. In retrospect, it can be regarded as the first military engagement between the New Yishuv (later to become Israel) and Arab rebels (of what was to become Syria). Our Tour Guide David also took the time to tell us about his time and experience fighting in the Lebanon war.
We then had some time to do our Shabbat shopping before heading back to the Golan Field School to get ready for Shabbat.

The Tribe Team

I really enjoyed cycling. It was nice to do some exercise and also enjoy great views. David’s story about his time in the Lebanon war was really interesting. I’m really looking forward to Shabbat. – Francesca Tigner-Orchudesch

Shabbat:

Once again, Friday night was really wonderful  with lots of singing, delicious food and great games all overlooking the beautiful city of Tzfat. We were lucky enough to have Rabbi Gideon Sylvestor, the Tribe Rabbi to join us for Shabbat. Rabbi Gideon helped run some great sessions for us which we all enjoyed.
After a well earned rest following a busy week, we began Shabbat morning with prayers and then we had some activities ran by our fantastic madrichim.

When Shabbat went out we stood and sung havdalah together before driving to the Kinneret to enjoy an evening cruise on the Sea of Galilee during which we enjoyed the Israeli music and drumming on the bongos.
The Tribe Team

“Inspirational Shabbat! We had an amazing time with Rabbi Gideon as our guest. The boat ride was absolutely amazing and a great bonding experience.” – Jamie Ben-Hur Tribe Tour Madrich 2013

Thursday 25^th:  A ‘Splashing’ Day!

We began our day with some volunteering at Kibbutz Ayelet Hashachar – one of the larger fruit producers in Israel. Here we ran stalls and activities for the Ethiopian children that live on the kibbutz. Some of the activities included making bracelets as well as baking and decorating biscuits.
We were then back on the coach to drive to the beautiful Banias Nature Reserve. The Banias hike consists of a walk through shallow water from the springs to the waterfall, where there is a stunning pool to swim in. The trek through the water was so refreshing in the Israeli sun.
There was hardly any point drying ourselves off, since our next stop was back in the river for some water sports! This time we were rafting down the Jordan River, which was a lot of fun and the group had a good laugh splashing each other with their paddles.
We continued the day at the Mount Bental observation point, where we had amazing views of Mount Hermon and the Golan region, and we learnt about the history of this area. Because it’s extremely high and close to Syria, it is a place of major military strategic importance to Israel. It is also known as the Valley of Tears because during the Yom Kippur War, Mount Bental was the site of one of the largest battles in history with many casualties suffered. It was there that 100 Israeli tanks were reduced to just seven, whilst Israel managed to take down 600 Syrian tanks and force the retreat of the Syrians.
To end off a great day we had a birthday party and cake for Nathalie who turned 16 today and after the celebrations we then headed to the local park for a concert by Israeli musician Moshe Ben Ami. It was great to hear the contrast between Israeli and English pop music and dance along with our Israeli counterparts.
More to come tomorrow,

The Tribe Team


“Volunteering was very interesting and it was impressing to see people brought up differently to me. The water hike was good and fun, I enjoyed it a lot. Rafting was incredible and brilliant one of the best things I’ve done on tour so far. The concert was very different and very fun I’ve never heard Israeli music before.” Joseph Gilmore 

Wednesday 24th: Rise and shine, it's Masada time!

An early morning for Tribe Tour but it was well worth it! This morning we woke at 2 am (a challenge in itself!) to climb the Roman ramp at Masada in time to see the spectacular sunrise! The hard walk justified itself when we reached the top and witnessed the beautiful views at dawn.

At the top of Masada the group learnt about the Jewish people's last struggle with the Romans at this site and we discussed their decision to martyr themselves, rather than fall at the hands of their enemies. It’s obviously a very contentious issue and it raised interesting points of debate. We also got to see the remains of the oldest synagogue in Israel, built on the Masada plain.

The group then set off for yet another hike, this time at Ein Bokek, to see the springs and to cool down a little in the shade. The day continued at a slightly slower pace travelling to the Dead Sea, to float in one of the most special places on earth and relax a little.

 

This evening we travelled up North to our next destination the Golan Field School.

Emma Solomon said, “Masada was absolutely brilliant, amazing view and experience, the only down side was waking up at 2 in the morning. Ein Bokek was lovely and refreshing and the dead sea was also relaxing. Great day all round! P.s. hello mum (you told me to mention you)!”

The Tribe Team

Tuesday 23rd: Tribe Tour gets the hump!

There’s no better way to start a day than a hike, before the desert heat really kicks in. Today, we explored Timna Park where we encountered some incredible rock formations including one shaped like a huge mushroom!

We then drove up to Chan Hashayarot to clear our minds in the wilderness. We began with a highly entertaining camel ride, before immersing ourselves further into the Bedouin lifestyle with a traditional and delicious Bedouin feast, a hafla (party), bonfire, and a night spent under the stars in Bedouin tents - a lovely way to end a wonderful day!

Joseph Stanton said, “The park was interesting and scary for some people. The way the ancient sea has affected the landscape is incredible. Camels were also great but painful, interesting and awesome. It was cool meeting the Bedouins and they have excellent food.”

  

The Tribe Team

Monday 22nd: Touring Israel by land and sea

The morning began with a typical Israeli (huge!) hotel breakfast, we then climbed Har Tzfachot. From the top we could see Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, reminding us how small Israel is, and how, despite its size, it remains so important as the only Jewish state in the world.

We then went to Hof Almog to go snorkelling in the Red Sea. The Red Sea has one of the most extensive coral reefs in the world, because it is so deep (something very rare for a coral reef). Everyone was amazed by the beauty of the coral and had a great time putting on the snorkel gear and getting in the water.

After snorkelling we had some lunch it was time to hit the beach. A welcome opportunity to relax, enjoy each other’s company, cool off in the sea and play games. We went banana boating and tubing, it was AWESOME!!!!!!!

At the end of the day we went to see some more of the Negev’s spectacular scenery at a place called the Red Canyon, which is only 200 meters long but it is deep and has beautiful red colours. It was a wonderful end to a jam packed day. We all need a good rest now.

Natasha Zack said, “I thought the water sports were absolutely amazing. All the activities were so much fun! The hikes are hard work but the views are all so beautiful.”

The Tribe Team

Sunday 21st: Hanging around in the Negev

Continuing our exploration of the South of Israel, we kicked off the day with a hike around the rim of the Machtesh Ramon, the largest machtesh in the world – a geological landform unique to the Negev. The hike gave us brilliant views over one of the most beautiful features of Israel’s diverse landscape.

It was then time to get the adrenalin pumping by abseiling down the rock face of the Ramon Crater - an incredible (but a little scary!) experience. The group got to see the amazing rock formation and how beautiful the desert area is, whilst dangling from a rope! They also had the opportunity to see the spring at the bottom of the crater. Abseiling was a really useful tool to help the group dynamics and allow the group to let their hair down a little more, as were the jeep rides which got the group extremely excited, as well as a little dusty!

A drive through the desert took us from Machtesh Ramon to Eilat, where we will be staying at the Adi Hotel for two nights. On arrival we walked towards the shoreline, near which stands a statue of soldiers hoisting a flag. Here, at Ink Flag, we heard the story of Eilat and how this handmade Israeli flag was raised during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War to mark the capture of Eilat.

We had a chilled night this evening and got to go and visit the market in Eilat. We had the chance to buy some great souvenirs and everyone had a great time.

Natalie Robert said, “In the morning we were in the crater and the differences between the morning and the afternoon were amazing. Mitzpe Ramon was exhilarating and exciting experience and I enjoyed every minute. I was a bit scared of rappelling but once I got into it was soooo much fun. Jeeping was also a lot of fun and was also very educational as our tour guide was telling us about places that we passed. Eilat is really fun and we watched some of our group go on this upside down ride which made us laugh a lot. The atmosphere in the market was pumping and happening which contrasted to the peace and quiet of the desert from the previous nights.”

The Tribe Team

Friday 19th and Shabbat 20th: Tribe Tour hotting up in the desert!

Friday

Despite the heat of the desert, the group donned their hats, slapped on the sun cream and filled their water bottles ready for a tiyul (hike) through the Ein Avdat Canyon. The hike took us through the largest Wadi, or dry riverbed, in the Negev. We also got to take some awesome pictures.

We were then joined by the ODT group which ran some team building exercises for us which included hoola hooping and tight rope walking. These exercises were designed to help us work together and to make the group closer.

We then went to a super market to buy snacks for Shabbat and a special present for our Guardian angels (shhhhhhh don’t tell anyone who you have). After the supermarket we returned to our Negev base – Midreshet Sde Boker – where we went for a much deserved cool down in the pool.

Leon Jackon said, “The tiyul was really fun and we took great photos. The hike was very scenic and it was amazing to see Israel in its natural habitat. Team building exercises definitely brought us together as a group and helped us trust more. It was great cooling off after hiking and a hot day by the pool. I’m really looking forward to Shabbat” – Leon Jackson

After our swim we got ready for our second Shabbat of Tribe Tour….

Shabbat 

Another fantastic Shabbat, this week down in the South of Israel. Friday night and havdalah were once again lovely and tuneful and the day was full of fun games and discussions. Spending Shabbat at Midreshet Sde Boker, right next to Ben Gurion’s home and overlooking the beautifully arid Negev will be an unforgettable experience.

Despite his high profile and relative wealth, Ben-Gurion chose not to settle in the heart of Israel, but lived what he preached when promoting the settlement of the South of Israel, setting up his modest retirement home in Sde Boker. Today we went on a walk to visit Ben Gurion’s tomb and then had fun and games at the park where we are staying. It was really nice to be able to chill out and relax with our friends.  

Clarice Telford said, “Shabbat was fun and it was great having the Godfrey family with us. The group activities were great and it was nice to hang out with the group. I enjoyed the walk today and I never thought that Israel was so big and so mountainous.”

The Tribe Team

Thursday 18th: Battles Through History

Our day began at Latrun - the Armoured Tank Museum, where the whole group had tonnes of fun climbing on the different tanks from throughout Israel’s history and learning about the Israel Defence Forces. Latrun gave us an insight into what life must have been like when Jewish people were literally fighting for the ability to set up a Jewish homeland in Israel, as well as the constant military struggle since, for survival.
From there we visited some of the key historic sites featured in some of the most famous stories from Jewish history. The first was the famous Tel Azeka, the place where David – the young shepherd, battled with Goliath – the mighty warrior. We had a good laugh acting out the scene and admiring the magnificent views.

From one battle to another; our next stop was Hirbet Midras – the caves of the Bar Kochba rebellion. We learnt about the rebellion and the history of these caves, which was where the fighters hid from the Romans. The group really took interest in the history and enjoyed crawling through the tight spaces underground. It was great being able to see the places where these events took place, which really brought the Bible to life for us. Going from Latrun to the biblical sites, there was a great connection to be understood between the Israeli battles of old and modern.

HaShomer HaChadash – a project that has over 2000 volunteers protecting vulnerable communities and farmsteads across the Negev and the Galilee. Here we experienced a young leadership programme and picked grapes from the vine from one of the vineyards protected by the project. We then had a poike style dinner around a camp fire which is where you put lots of different things into a pot and cook it for around 2 hours to make a stew. In our poike there was meat, vegetable, rice and even some coca-cola.

Sophie Seaton said, “The tank museum was fascinating it was awesome climbing and going on the tanks. I didn’t know much about David and Goliath – it was interesting to learn about it. Crawling through caves was soooooo much fun. Dinner was definitely experienceable (my new word) – we picked grapes and ate them (not mentioning the grape fight) and then we sat around the camp fire and had our poike which was really good surprisingly and also sang songs.”

The Tribe Team