The last day of Yad B’Yad had an awesome start. After our last night sleeping in the hotel with YBY, we prepared to head [back] out to Disneyland! With our hats and sunscreen and water, of course. Being in the happiest place on earth with the happiest people was really amazing. Everyone had the chance to go on really fun Disney rides–It’s A Small World, Space Mountain, or Indiana Jones’ Adventure. We all had a great time riding with our friends! We are excited to keep all of the amazing memories we have of this trip to Disneyland with Yad B’Yad.

Disney was magical, and we would have had a happily ever after if the story had ended there, but it didn’t…we still had Banquet!!!

Since it was Hippie-themed (peace, Love, Inclusion), everyone was excited (some very excited) to wear our new YBY West Coast shirts that we tie-dyed ourselves on Friday! We looked fantastic B’YACHAD in our YBY hippie apparel. We then had a delicious dinner of sushi and noodles. I tried Sushi for the first time at Banquet–there’s a first for everything, even on the last day of YBY! The female staff then made a skit about the male staff, which was very funny and brought back many memories; after, the male staff made a skit about the female staff, which had the same effect. Next, our Head Staff made a speech and reflected back on the summer, also bringing back many memories. We watched some videos about our YBY experience and memories we have (created by the banquet committee). Then, to end off the banquet, of course, we had a DANCE PARTY!!!!

We enjoyed our last dance party on Yad B’Yad with some tears, but we still danced on. We then witnessed for another time Ron, our program director, doing his unbelievable dance as we cheered him on! Everyone stood in awe watching the powers of our master Ron go to work. Then we danced to one of our favorites, Hey Brother!!! We had a great time all dancing together this awesome dance. And then…to end the dance party…of course…TURN DOWN FOR WHAT! With DJ Shimmy in the house, there is no way we wouldn’t. We all had so much fun dancing together for one last time, even though it was difficult to enjoy because of the realization that it was our last night together. The Banquet and the dance party together was a perfect way to end off YBY–we had a great time reflecting back on the summer with sadness, and then enjoyed the last few moments we had of Yad B’Yad with happiness.

We had an amazing night and we know these memories will last forever–we will always remember Yad B’Yad 2014 Trip 1!!!!!!

Tamar Even-Hen