Comments from Alumni

I have learned, felt, seen, tasted so much on this trip. I have been given a chance to individually develop and grow, while still following this structured setting. I have created friends and loves that are the most amazing ever!

--- Sam

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Imagine a group of people who traveled near and far to come to the Kotel, just to touch it and pray. They wait anxiously to get up to the Wall but respect those who are taking their time to pray. This holy spot is the only remains of the Second Temple that was destroyed in 70 CE. It was only an outer wall to a courtyard preceding the Temple. Jews from all over with different backgrounds, some who have never even prayed before, come to this wall and pray to God. Even though some don't believe in God, this wall represents Jewish history. How Jews were able to survive through so much and still live today. It unites the Jews with one thing: history. As long as this wall stands, Jews will go on living and even if it falls, Jews can survive. This is the message our history gives me. I have been to the Kotel before. Maybe about 3 times, but it was all in the same two weeks. I never before felt what I did on that Thursday. I felt close to God and was only focused on praying. Normally it is hard for my mind not to wander, but there I didn't care what anyone was thinking. I was completely oblivious to the world around me. It means I was able to concentrate and pray to God. It's hard to describe the feelings which filled my body and soul that day. But whatever it was made me understand all the years of Torah and Jewish history I studied and that the Jews will continue to survive through good and bad times.

--- Shoshana

Massada seems to be the perfect thing. It stands for hope, faith, community, and life. When I was coming to Israel, almost everyone had a Massada story - they had done it at high noon in August, or 2 in the morning in January. But in each story I heard, people spoke of an amazing view from the top, a spiritual connection to the land, and the wonder of holding a piece of Massada in their hands. All of this made me so excited to climb up Massada. I couldn't wait to see and to understand every cave and every rock on the mountain. The best part, however, when the time came, was watching the sunrise. I could just feel, for a brief moment, what it was like to watch that sunrise every morning, and to be filled with a longing to fight back; to retake Jerusalem again. Massada filled me with pride, I could only imagine what it means to Israelis. I think every country needs a symbol of pride, hope, patriotism, and a reminder of what can happen if you don't remain strong. Massada is just this. Massada won't fall again, for as long as the army stands.

--- Jessica

I think experiencing Israel through TRY is a really good way to do so. We don't just visit places and look at the pretty sites, but we learn about what happened as well as the significance. It gives you both advantages.

--- Amy

“It’s hard to sum up four months in a few sentences, but TRY has been a life-changing experience for me.”

--- Mori

“I have never learned so much academically, as well as about myself, at one time.”

---Dina

“It was the most powerful, intense, Jewish and interesting time of my life.”

---Michael

“TRY was an excellent experience for me. I liked experiencing what history was like through traveling to the places --where history really took place.” --- Deborah

TRY was the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life. I felt like such a changed person when i came home and it really helped me learn not only about Israel and Judaism, but also about myself. --- David