Lemsky Endowment Fund

Yosef with family at the Kotel

Yosef Vanderwalde, son of Drs. Lindi and Ari Vanderwalde, is a junior at the Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys. Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund provided him with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of his Mach Hach Ba’Aretz Israel trip last summer. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Applications for Summer 2023 are now available online. To learn more and apply, please click here.

By Yosef Vanderwalde

Before this year, I never recognized Israel as anything more than a vacation destination. I’ve been to Israel with my family twice before: once when I was six and once when I was ten. I wasn’t old enough to appreciate all that Israel had to offer that America could not. This visit was very different. I went on a program called Mach Hach Ba’Aretz for five weeks and had the time of my life and grew a new appreciation for the Land of Israel.

I arrived in Israel after a very long flight, was greeted by my old summer camp friends, and then met the people on my bus who I would be spending the next month in Israel. After driving to our hotel in Jerusalem to put our bags down, we headed to the bus again to take the short trip to the Western Wall. I had visited the Wall before, but this time I felt an incredible connection with the city and the people around me and I was excited to experience Israel again.

Mach Hach Ba’Aretz is a touring program, we went from the Golan Heights in the north to the Red Sea in the south and from the beaches of the Mediterranean in the east to the Dead Sea in the west. We really covered a lot of ground. We went to many cities, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tzfat, Tiberius, Eilat, and so many more. Along the way we became friends with other Jewish teens from different countries such as England, France, and Belarus. My counselors were all amazing Americans who made aliyah to Israel after high school and it was very nice to get to know them and learn what made them love Israel.

While on my trip, I learned about what it is like to live in Israel. I really enjoyed being able to eat basically wherever I wanted because there were so many kosher options. It was nice to be in an environment where there were Jews always surrounding me. Sometimes in America, I don’t want to wear a Kippah because I am worried that someone will have a problem with me, but in Israel I was able to express my Judaism with everyone around me.

To conclude, I had an amazing time in Israel. I traveled throughout the entire country and was able to appreciate it as a young adult. Also, I saw what it was like to live in Israel as a Jew and enjoy all the delicious kosher foods. Lastly, I made tons of friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime. I love the Land of Israel and all that it has to offer, and maybe one day I will be able to move there.

Thank you to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for helping to make my Mach Hach Ba’Aretz trip possible.

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Eliza Herman visiting the Kotel during her BBYO Passport Israel trip

Eliza Herman, daughter of Jenny and Larry Herman is a junior at St. Mary’s Episcopal School. Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund provided her with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of her BBYO Passport Israel trip last summer. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Applications for Summer 2023 are now available online. To learn more and apply, click here.

This past summer was one that I will never forget because of my amazing trip to Israel. This was my first time going to Israel, and it was incredible to see how much my connection to the country and my faith grew throughout the three weeks I was there.

The decision to go on this trip was one of the hardest ones I have ever made because I would only know one other person. From going to the shuks (markets), hiking Masada at five in the morning, and especially hanging out with new friends, I can confidently say that I have made memories on this trip that I will never forget.

The trip started in Jerusalem with a tour of the Old City where we walked from the Jaffa Gate to the Zion Gate. This path included walking through an aqueduct underneath the city. We ended the day by going to the 2022 Maccabiah opening ceremonies. At this event, we met up with all of the other BBYO Israel trips where we got to watch the procession of all the countries and ended the night with a concert.

Another day that stands out to me was our day in Tsfat. This day consisted of a tour of the city followed by a discussion with a Kabbalistic artist that lives in the city. This talk stuck with me because it was so interesting to learn about a new side and way of Judaism that I did not know about previously. The artist talked about his life and how he grew up in America and then decided to follow his spirituality and move to Israel. He also spoke about how he uses his art to express some of the teachings of the Kabbalah. After this, we explored the city for ourselves and walked around the market. The day ended with rafting and pizza on the Jordan River.

Before I went on the trip, I knew I was going to love hiking Masada, and I can say that the experience exceeded my expectations. Our desert adventure started with riding camels at sunset which was so much fun. That night, we learned about the Bedouin culture while staying in tents. The next day started early with a 4:30 am wake-up so we could see the sunrise from the top of Masada. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the early wakeup and hike were well worth the view at the top. One of the most impactful moments on the trip was when the group sat in a circle and watched the sunrise at the top while saying a prayer for how we were all grateful to be at that place and in that moment together.

These were only a few of the many experiences that not only made me feel connected to Israel but also with Judaism as a whole. I feel like I have a home in Israel and made many friends from all over the country. Thank you to the Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky’s Endowment Fund for helping make this journey possible for me.

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Kotel (L to R) Ezra Davidovics, Yaakov Lubetski, Asher Liss, Eli Schloss, Izzy Weiner, Yehuda Kahn

Ezra Davidovics, son of Dr. Deena and Noam Davidovics, is a junior at the Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys. Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund provided him with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of his NCSY Kollel Israel trip last summer. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Applications for Summer 2023 are now available online. Click here to learn more and apply.

By Ezra Davidovics

Last summer I had the time of my life on NCSY Kollel. It was a completely spectacular experience which I will never forget. The learning was meaningful, the rabbis inspiring, the trips amazing, the counselors fantastic, and the friendships I made along the way long lasting. While on Kollel, I could feel how much I was growing both in my learning and athleticism. I truly believe that if you are going to Israel for the summer, NCSY Kollel is the best and most worthwhile program to attend. 

Kollel, which is in Moshav Beit Meir, a moshav near Jerusalem, is a program which beautifully blends Torah learning and sports. It includes a rigorous schedule of six hours a day of learning, with world renowned rabbis, and an equally intense basketball league, which almost all of the participants are in. The program also has great “mini-tiyulim,” (journeys) for those who don’t want to be in the league or people with an off-day from basketball, which are trips around Israel anywhere from malls to yeshiva campuses. 

Every Tuesday during the program we went on big trips to amazing places throughout the Land of Israel. These trips helped me recognize the beauty of the land I call my second home and what it means to be Zionist. My favorite trip was when I went to go climb Har Yehoram and Har Yo’ash (mountains) in Eilat. This trip was physically challenging, as much of the climb was vertically up a cliff face, but also extremely rewarding once you finally get to the top. The climb down was also another two miles and took us three hours but once we were finished with that it was still 10:00 AM! After the mountain, we went on a boat and had water sports and swimming in the Red Sea. We spent a little time at the famous Ice Mall in Eilat but unfortunately not much there was kosher.

Other tiyulim were more educational, like the Gedolim (noted rabbis) tour. This tiyul was where we went from great rabbi’s house to great rabbi’s house in the city of Bnei Brak. It was very cool and inspiring to see all these holy people and hear words of Torah from them. We were accompanied by our head counselor who knew the city well and could tell us exactly where to go. 

Over the course of the program, through the use of free time and late nights, I managed to finish three quarters of the entire Gemara Maseches (Talmud Tractate) Rosh Hashanah. This was a goal that I took on early in the program and was a tall task indeed. With four days left until the day we were leaving, I was sitting with four dapim (pages) left. I rallied my chavrusa (learning partner), and we managed to finish them all before the final day, at a much faster pace than we were used to. This is what I consider my greatest accomplishment from this program as I worked the hardest for it. Overall, I would recommend NCSY Kollel to anyone and everyone as it was, in fact, the “Best Summer Ever.”

Thank you to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for helping to make my NCSY Kollel trip possible.

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Jacob Shapiro, son of Virginia Palacio and Todd Shapiro, just graduated Lausanne Collegiate School (and is pictured [right] enjoying food in Jerusalem with friends Jack Benjamin, Connor Rubin, and Anders Kennedy). Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemksy Endowment Fund provided him with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of his NFTY program in Israel last summer. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Applications for Summer 2023 will open in the Fall of 2022.

By: Jacob Shapiro

My time in Israel was one of the most defining months of my life. It opened my eyes to the history of Judaism, Israel, and buses, more than I have ever experienced.

The first part of the trip was exciting because I went to New Jersey to hang out for the night and meet people from the other camps who were all going to Israel. It was a fun night, and I was excited about staying in a hotel with my camp friends and not in a Jacobs camp cabin. When I landed in Tel-Aviv we were greeted by our tour guide. Immediately after stepping outside, it was noticeably clear we were experiencing a completely different culture. It was hot and everything was built out of what looked like a type of sandstone. However, the first thing that stood out to me was the security for passengers entering the country. Just like any other international flight, we needed passports and identification, but the distinguishable differences were the border control permits and passenger interviews.

The Eastern Mediterranean International School right outside of Tel Aviv was the first place we stayed. The school was a boarding school with housing and dining facilities. Surprisingly, the food was amazing, better than any other place we stayed. After a few days of orientation and talking about the itinerary for the next week, we had our first night out in the city of Tel-Aviv. The city of Tel-Aviv had a downtown that felt similar to Seattle but not quite as big as Chicago or New York. We had a fun night with some amazing ice cream from a place recommended by the tour guides.

The second week was action packed because we traveled all over and stayed in the Negev desert for three days. I was worried I was going to spend three days in the desert and not shower the whole time, but it was the best part of the trip. The first day we hiked up Masada and saw the incredible sunrise, one of the prettiest things I have ever seen. We went to a community pool in the desert which was very strange because I felt refreshed and relaxed and then looked around and realized I was in the middle of nowhere.

Masada was not the only thing that took away my breath. Though it was incredible, the Western Wall and the city of Jerusalem took my breath away, sent chills down my spine and dropped my jaw. I have never seen a city so perfect and beautiful. The image of the sun setting over the Golden Dome is still drilled in my head. I found that the people of Israel were genuinely welcoming and nice to our group.

In conclusion, Israel was a life changing trip, and I am so grateful for everything that made the stars align for the trip to happen not just for me, but for everyone.

Thank you to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for helping to make my NFTY summer Israel experience possible.

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Nadav Weiss, son of Jessica and Dr. Daniel Weiss, is a senior at Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys (pictured davening at sunrise in Israel). Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemksy Endowment Fund provided him with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of his NCSY Israel ID program in Israel. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. To learn more and apply, please go to: www.jcpmemphis.org/lemsky-endowment-fund.

By: Nadav Weiss

My NCSY Israel ID Summer experience was one that I will never forget. With everything bad that happened this past year due to COVID, this trip really tipped the scale towards the good.

First, it was my first time in Israel. While I did not expect it to be during these times, I am glad that it was. Second, it was an awesome program with amazing people. I made so many friendships along the way with people who saw Israel the same way I did. During the trip there were many meaningful moments that really made me feel at home and were the highlights of my trip.

The most memorable and meaningful experiences were my trips to the Kotel. I went to the Kotel a total of four times and each one had a distinct perspective for me. The first time we went, I was blindfolded and led to a balcony to take in the sight for the first time; it was truly breathtaking. After my whole life of wanting to be in Israel, wanting to be at the Kotel, I was finally there. When visiting the Kotel for the first time it is customary to rip your shirt and I still have the ripped shirt because looking at it makes me want to go back more.

Nadav is pictured during one of his many visits to the Kotel.

The second time we went was on a Friday night, and the atmosphere and ruach (spirit) of Kabbalat Shabbat was unforgettable and truly spectacular. My third trip to the Kotel was during the fast of the 9th of Av. Singing and mourning with Jews from Israel and all around the world really made my connections to the Jewish people stronger and more meaningful. My last trip to the Kotel was a goodbye one and it really hit me because after that we would be heading back to America. While it was sad to say goodbye to this life changing sight, it was not a goodbye forever, and I promised that I would return next year for a yeshiva gap-year.

Also meaningful were the nature activities that we got to do along with exploring and traversing the land. During the last week of the trip we woke up at 4 a.m. and did a sunrise hike to the top of one of the mountains. Once we reached the top, we took out our tefillin and put them on to daven. When the sun started to rise, I managed to get a beautiful picture of me davening with the sun rising in the background. I keep that picture close to my heart.

Another nature activity was sleeping in Bedouin tents. Just sleeping outside with nature while looking up at the stars was breathtaking and an experience I will never forget. Israel is made up of so many different environments and the uniqueness that each one has really represents the beauty that Hashem (G-d) saw in this land.

My Israel trip was the best summer I have ever had. In the end, the beauty of the land and the meaningful experiences along the way connected me more with the land of Israel. I cannot wait to go back to revisit places and to find new ones with ever new experiences.

I am grateful to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for helping to make my summer experience in Israel possible.

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Benjamin Siegel, son of Dr. Joel and Rachel Siegel, is a senior at Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys (pictured doing a headstand with a statue of Ben-Gurion at his childhood home). Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemksy Endowment Fund provided him with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of his Ramah Israel Seminar in Israel. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Teen Israel Experience applications for Summer 2022 are now available online. To learn more and apply, please go to: www.jcpmemphis.org/lemsky-endowment-fund.

By: Benjamin Siegel

During this past June and July, I was fortunate to experience the summer of a lifetime. Not only was I in the holy land of Israel, but I was there touring and traveling the entire country, visiting sites from west to east and north to south. It was an extraordinary trip.

In the famous episode of Jacob’s dream, God promises him in Genesis 28:14 that “your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.” This verse perfectly encapsulates my experience. I am one of Jacob’s descendants and my Israel experience allowed me to see the entire country. Touring Israel truly exceeded my expectations. I was privileged to visit holy places, walk in the footsteps of my ancestors, and meet new people from around the country. Ramah Seminar was an enlightening and inspiring adventure that I will never forget. 

Although this summer was my third time in Israel, it was the most meaningful one. While we toured for six weeks, there were a few experiences that stood out to me. Within our first week, my favorite experience was rafting near the Sea of Galilee. For two hours, we were able to relax and meet new people while drifting on the water and occasionally falling into it. A few weeks later, we reached Jerusalem. While I had been to the Kotel previously, this time the Kotel had an additional level of meaning. I wrote notes to place in it and said a personal prayer with my hand resting on it. But leading davening there with a minyan brought me to an entirely new spiritual level.

Benjamin, pictured on the right with his friend Yehuda at the Kotel, enjoyed visiting destinations all across Israel on his Lemsky-sponsored trip.

Next, we moved on to the Negev, southern Israel, where we lived on a kibbutz adjacent to the grave of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister. I learned that while he was focused on establishing a Jewish state in general, he paid particular attention to developing the Negev. I was surprised to learn that it comprises approximately half of Israel. If no one lived there, Israel would be more vulnerable to attack from the South. Our kibbutz had a beautiful view overlooking many nearby canyons. At sunset, the magnificent nature and wildlife were even more impressive. I now fully understand Ben-Gurion’s attraction to the Negev. 

As we returned to Jerusalem for the last week, I began reflecting on how much I had seen and accomplished. We traveled throughout the entire country in a span of six weeks. I completed the Yam L’yam (Sea to Sea) adventure, walking and biking from the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean Sea. We hiked up Masada at dawn and I was fortunate to lead davening at the summit overlooking the Dead Sea at sunrise. We walked in our ancestors’ footsteps across the land which was promised to their descendants. I made lifelong friends from across the country and met many Israelis, including some who just finished their army service. My trip and experience were all so spectacular.

I am grateful to the Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for helping to make my Ramah Israel Seminar trip to Israel possible. I highly recommend that other high school students visit Israel whenever possible. There is truly no other place like it on Earth.

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Morgan Schrier, daughter of Carolyn and Adam Schrier, is a senior at Hutchison School (Morgan and her friends are pictured walking through Jaffa, Israel from left to right: Nicole Feltster, Hannah Schenk, Chloe Teig, Carolie Hecht, Morgan Schrier, Hadassah Sternfeld.) Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemksy Endowment Fund provided her with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of her BBYO International Leadership Seminar in Israel. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Teen Israel Experience applications for Summer 2022 are now available online. To learn more and apply, please go to: www.jcpmemphis.org/lemsky-endowment-fund.

By: Morgan Schrier

This past summer, I traveled to Israel for the first time on BBYO’s International Leadership Seminar Israel (ILSI.) Having studied Israel for years throughout my Hebrew School and youth group career, I felt as if my expectations were set. I was most excited to see Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as those are the two places one usually hears when learning about Israel in America. Looking back on it now, I had absolutely no idea what I was about to jump into. This was no ordinary trip.

Our journey, just like the State of Israel’s journey began, in Sde Boker. On our first full day post-quarantine, we learned about David Ben-Gurion, his time in Sde Boker, and Israel’s Declaration of Independence. I felt as if I had a whole new view of the country and its history. Though our time in the kibbutz was short, it allowed us to transport ourselves into David Ben-Gurion’s shoes and immediately understand the importance of Israel’s existence.

Next, we traveled throughout the Negev desert and learned about agriculture, rode camels, learned from the Bedouins, slept in their tents, hiked up Masada, and floated in the Dead Sea. We then made our way up to Jerusalem for our first Shabbat in Israel.

I will never forget seeing Jerusalem for the first time. As our bus emerged from the tunnel, everyone went silent and we all pressed our faces to the windows to take in the sights of the city. I immediately felt drawn to it, as if a force were pulling me in. The next day we walked throughout the Old City of Jerusalem. There was history and stories everywhere, and I felt my connection to the city grow by the minute.

My reaction to visiting the Kotel surprised even myself. I prayed, put my note in the wall, and listened to others’ stories of what they were hoping and praying for. Before I knew it, I felt tears rolling down my face. I do not think I will ever be able to explain why I cried. Most of us were emotional and weeping in each other’s arms as we supported one another. I felt so connected to the place and the people and at that moment. We were not one hundred individuals; we were one community.

We made our way up north; through Galilee, Tzfat, the Golan Heights, and Nazareth. We spoke with Arab-Israeli teens, swam in the Kinneret, learned from a Kabbalistic artist, and so much more. We then went to Tel Aviv, immersing ourselves in the markets, food, graffiti art, and bustling streets, to return to Jerusalem once again.

We took a field trip into the West Bank, to Gush Etzion. With an unspoken fear of where we were, our group sat down in an area, met by Rabbi Hanan. Rabbi Hanan spoke to us about his journey to Israel, and how he traveled from Texas to make Aliyah. Rabbi Hanan introduced us to his Palestinian friend, Noor, and he told us of his journey. The two met in the very place we were sitting, were able to engage in civil conversation, and become friends. Rabbi Hanan and Noor now work with an organization called Friends of Roots, which works to create friendships and mutual understandings between Israelis and Palestinians. I can say without a doubt that this was the most eye-opening and impactful part of our trip. Seeing two groups, a part of decades of long intense conflict, come together for the greater good was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

My summer Israel trip changed me for the better. I became more educated, more open-minded, more connected to my Judaism, and more connected to the state of Israel. I have a forever community with ILSI 2021 and cannot wait to travel back to one of the few places I truly feel at home. Thank you to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky’s Endowment Fund for helping to make my BBYO International Leadership Seminar Israel possible.

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David Sabin, son of Dr. Joanne Levine and Dr. Noah Sabin, is a senior at Memphis University School (pictured enjoying the view on top of a mountain outside of Eilat, Israel). Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemksy Endowment Fund provided him with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of his Ramah Israel Seminar in Israel. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. To learn more and apply, please go to: www.jcpmemphis.org/lemsky-endowment-fund

By: David Sabin

This past summer I attended Ramah Seminar in Israel. The summer was one of the greatest summers of my life so far. Being given the opportunity to spend six weeks in Israel with my closest friends not only strengthened my connection with them, but also my connection with Judaism and the Jewish people. To see with my own eyes the thousands of years of Jewish history I learned about in day school was amazing to me.

The main highlight of the trip for me was the Etgar trip, which means challenge. Initially I chose to do the Etgar Desert trip, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to a heat wave and I had to do Etgar Sea-to-Sea. This new arrangement proved to be an incredible experience. Spending four straight days without everyday luxuries made me appreciate the life I had much more and allowed me to create new friendships with people I had not even spoken to until that point.

Another great part of the Ramah Seminar was the time we spent in the Negev desert. We stayed at several kibbutzim which were all situated in breathtaking landscapes the likes of which I have never seen. While in the south of Israel, we went to a community on the border between Israel and Gaza. Hearing their perspectives and experiences of living so close to conflict inspired me to do what I can to foster peace not only between Israel and the Palestinians but also anywhere else I see needless violence arise.

Thank you to the Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemksy Endowment Fund for helping to make my Ramah Israel Seminar possible.

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Akiva Nelson, son of Hannah and Dr. Michael Nelson, is a senior at The Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey (pictured inside of a cave, wearing a yellow shirt, with friends he made during his trip to Israel). Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemksy Endowment Fund provided him with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of his Bnei Akiva Mach Hach program in Israel. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Teen Israel Experience applications for Summer 2022 are now available online. To learn more and apply, please go to: www.jcpmemphis.org/lemsky-endowment-fund.

By: Akiva Nelson

This past summer I went to Israel on a five-week Mach Hach BaAretz program through Bnei Akiva. I had an amazing experience and connected with the land in a way I never thought was possible. We hiked almost daily, and every hike was beautiful. The scenery was amazing, and the tour guides were even better. The tour guides did an amazing job teaching us the history of our ancestors and answering all my questions. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend over a month in Israel.

I also made a lot of new friends on Mach Hach and consider them to be some of my closest. The experiences we shared were extremely meaningful and important to the development of our lives on the road to adulthood. Every single day we had so much fun and did so many activities that when we got back to the hostels everyone fell asleep nearly immediately. I consider myself to be a night owl and hardly ever sleep but found myself falling asleep early because the days were so amazing. I could not wait for the next day to arrive so I could continue my incredible journey throughout the country of Israel. 

One of my favorite activities was Yam L’yam (Hiking Sea to Sea). In this program, I backpacked from one end of the country to the other in a span of four days. Most of my friends were tired and sore from hiking countless miles for a countless amount of time; however, I could not wait to keep marching forwards. At one point I ran to a separate mountain and was full-out sprinting, jumping, weaving throughout the trees, rocks, and other obstacles, having the best time of my life. I felt connected to the land yet again this time in a completely different manner. I felt connected physically with the land, but also spiritually and emotionally, as if my connection had always been there. This was only one of my amazing experiences I encountered this summer.

This trip, which externally may not seem important, was instrumental in structuring my views on the amazing and beautiful country of Israel. I now know how important Israel is to me and to the Jewish people and vow to never take something so amazing for granted.

Thank you to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for helping to make my Mach Hach summer program possible.

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Hayden Miller, daughter of Paige and Jed Miller, is a senior at Hutchison School (pictured left with her friend Sydney Shemper in Jerusalem). Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemksy Endowment Fund provided her with a Teen Israel Experience grant to help offset the cost of her NFTY L’Dor V’Dor (Jacobs Camp) program in Israel. All rising high school juniors and seniors in the Memphis Jewish community are eligible for grants up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Teen Israel Experience applications for Summer 2022 are now available online. To learn more and apply, please go to: www.jcpmemphis.org/lemsky-endowment-fund.

By: Hayden Miller

Most people live a lifetime battling some sort of internal conflict; often this conflict is their religion. Growing up I felt ashamed to be Jewish and would hide this piece of my identity as best as I could because of my conservative Christian community. When I came of age to have a Bat Mitzvah, I was so ashamed of being different that I invited no one. This past summer completely changed the way I feel about my Jewish identity. After spending the summer in Israel with my life-long friends, I now have a vastly different understanding of Judaism, which has led to a new understanding of myself. In Israel I saw and did the craziest things that I will remember forever.

As I laid in the Negev desert staring at the sky blanketed in stars, I knew this summer was going to be more than a vacation with my camp friends. In the first week of the trip, we endured physically intense hikes and vast changes in everything we were accustomed to. However, all of that was secondary to the beautiful views, the amazing new people, and all the interesting things we quickly learned within our first seven days in the Holy Land. I am sure most teens who attended the NFTY Israel Summer trip would agree the first week was jam packed with unique experiences. The hikes were not only breathtaking but eye opening, and as our tour guides and leaders shared personal anecdotes or wise words, I would take that time in solitude to reflect on these lessons. Although I had learned about the Torah through religious school, the lessons never resonated with me until I was in the Holy Land.

Without even realizing it, in my month in Israel I learned immense amounts about Judaism, Hebrew, Israeli culture, and the conflicts in the Middle East while having the most incredible time of my life. This past summer I learned how fully encapsulating Israel is. I was completely ignorant of the complexity of the country’s cultural and geographic diversity. Our group went from engaging in conversation with orthodox Rabbis at the Western Wall to sharing a meal with Arab Israelis. We went from spending chilly nights in the desert to sizzling temperatures at the Dead Sea. We went from city to rural, from Temple to Mosque, and more making the experience impactful.

I cannot wait to return to Israel to see what more this diverse country has to offer. I am forever grateful for this experience and will never forget the memories made and the lessons learned in Israel.

Thank you to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for helping to make my NFTY L’Dor V’Dor Israel trip memories possible.

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