Archive | NFTY-EIE

By Jonathan Segal, NFTY EIE High School in Israel alum

My first visit to the western wall was one of confusion. I was young and couldn’t quite understand why so many people had come so far to see a few boulders in the shape of a vertical wall. I did notice, however, that this odd pile of rocks seemed to have a special meaning for a large percentage of the people who got the privilege to witness its significance. Unfortunately, the rest of my first experience at this holy sight consisted of being scolded by elderly Chasidic Jews for wearing shorts and dressing immodestly in front of the wall.

NFTY-EIE High School in Israel alumnus, Robin Leventhal, talks about how she learned things in the penultimate semester of her high school career she does not think she could have understood in any other way. “I took Judaism into my own hands and went with it…There are still so many questions I have to be answered, but I now know what I want to make of my Jewish lifestyle… On this trip, you find found who your true self is… It will help me remain more of who I truly am.”

From an interview with the Pioneer Local Sun Times

This past October, we shared the exciting news of how students from our NFTY-EIE High School in Israel – now celebrating it’s 50th year – witnessed the return of Gilad Shalit to his home after five years of captivity in Gaza. In the months following his return home, two of our students had the unique and thrilling opportunity to interview Noam Shalit, Gilad’s father.

The video of their interview debuted in front of 6,000 people at the URJ Biennial this past week in Washington D.C. Check it out here, along with commentary from the two students – Jon Segal from Montclair, NJ and Hannah Bender from Carol Stream, Illinois.

By Morgan Weidner, NFTY-EIE High School in Israel Student

Getting the chance to spend a semester of high school learning the language, history, and land of the Jewish people has been incredible. I can already tell I have and will continue to learn so much from the relationships I have built with my peers, teachers, and counselors. But the msot valuable thing I will take away from my time in Israel is the memories I have of living history as it happens.

By Belle Gabel-Frank, NFTY-EIE High School in Israel Student (Fall 2011)

That moment has finally come. The moment I’ve heard about so many times from my sister. The moment I was wishing I could fast-forward to while I was sitting, waiting for that awkward moment to pass a week ago at the airport. Finally the moment has come, when I’m really at where I really am.

Now before I get too existential for you, let me clarify. The “where” that I’m “really at” is Israel. The “moment” that I’m really in, is when it has finally hit me: this, Israel, is where I really am, and where I’ll be, for the next four months.