Today we started out with bright and early wake up and breakfast because we had an exciting day ahead! We had a sponsored trip by Coby Cohen’s parents to fly over Masada in a small airplane. We went in groups of 3 to 5 over Masada and the view was very cool, frightening, and exhilarating all at the same time! Some people even got to fly the plane! It was really such an incredible activity Then we went to have lunch, and after that we went to our next activity which was at a ma’ayan, or spring, to cool off. While in the water we played an intense game of concentration.

We went back to the hotel and got prepared for shabbos. The theme for this shabbos was Shimon Cohen’s Bar-Mitzvah (one of our counselors whos bar mitzvah parsha was this shabbat). Before shabbat we took pictures and we continued on with our normal Friday night schedule. We ended the night with an energetic tisch.

Shabbos day started out the same with davening, kiddish, and then learning groups. At lunch TJJ joined us for some energetic zemirot. The entire dining hall was filled with ruach as two trips had such a fun time together After lunch we had some circle time, and had menucha  where some of our staff members led some optional learning chaburaot. After our free time, Group 1 led a talent show which was amazing. People were called up to perform talents that they didn’t even know they had! The winner was the Improv Four which as a team of 4 Yad B’Yaders (Marg(!!!!), Shlomit Ebbin!, Aryeh Strauss!, and Buch!) We concluded Shabbos with shalishudis and a really beautiful slow shira on the roof overlooking the hills of Jerusalem.

Our night activity was part 2 of the Cohen Family’s sponsorship and it was a Shlomo Katz kumzits at the Davidson center with our friends from trip 1!  Our shabbos was amazing and we can’t wait for the week ahead!

• Simcha R., Aryeh Strauss