On ilead the activities never end. Therefore, when we finished the hike on the first day we were driven to airsoft games (like paintball without the paint). That night we slept on the rocky grounds of a national park. After showering in the sink we were blessed with Shlomo’s soup and watermelon for dinner.

As expected, the next day we were all woken up at 530 am to continue our expedition to the top of Har Hamaron. We started off strong–singing while we walked and just enjoying nature. We walked along a winding road until we saw a turn that would lead us to a dirt path. We were indecisive whether to keep going or to turn. Eventually we decided on the latter and started to walk. And walk. And walk. An hour later we came to the conclusion that we were indefinitely lost. We turned around and retraced all of our steps back to the beginning; erasing our progress with each step. We soon found out that we missed the inconspicuous turn hidden by trees that was the right path up the mountain. The 2.5 hour setback demoralized most of us–we were almost out of water, put legs were sore and we hadn’t even started, and we were baking in the sun. Most of us thought we couldn’t do it but, like the domino effect, we slowly but surely rose and started our accent. Finishing the hike at 330 pm, all we wanted to do was sleep but the most important thing. About the hike that day was not only did we do it but we did it together. After the hike, we had a first aid class as well as a Krav Maga class. Here we set up our campsite and bonfire and set our alarms for a 530 am wakeup. The last day of survival week was here. The next morning we were faced with the challenge of acting as one entity. We ditched our 48 hour bags and climbed to the top of Har Hamaron holding hands the entire time. To end survival week we had a celebratory breakfast. We toasted to Renna’s birthday and gobbled down melon and shakshuka.

Later that day we drove ATV’s at the safe speed of 35 mph. Following that we met the next place we could call “home.” We got off of the bus and walked around dazed. Not only did we have a basketball and soccer court but we were on the beach with a pool and incomparable food.

Wednesday came quickly. We woke up at 645 am and headed towards Technion’s Rewalk institute to talk to the person who was a miracle to many; who came up with a way in which paraplegics could walk.

From there we made our way to a military cemetery for an hour filled with tears and emotions. This experience put sacrifice into perspective; some of the people who were buried less than ten feet away from here we were standing were our age and yet they experienced so much more than we did.

We came home to fight family vs. family in the marshmallow challenge. I’m not sure what captured our attention more: the task or the available food to eat (raw noodles and marshmallows.)

On Thursday we went to the עקו prison to experience what Jews under the British crown in the 1940’s experienced. The consequences of making a defense group and fighting for our independence was sometimes met with life imprisonment or even hanging. The consequences were meaningless at the time; they were willing to do absolutely anything and everything to save Israel.

The rest of he day we toured the old city of עקו and had a dance party on a boat. The boat party showed just how comfortable each person felt with each other and it was at that point that I realized I didn’t want ilead to ever end.

Today we woke up at 615 am especially to pray for Rosh Hodesh. Afterwards, we came to תקינים to tour the city and meet the amazing Margalit who prevailed throughout the years as the only Jew in the city. After reconstructing a Shul and making clay necklaces we headed to the supermarket to stock up for Shabbat.

Har Hamaron was a shadow behind clouds from our view on the balcony of אחוזת קראו in צפת and when I heard that we were to hike that said distance and that, “We are not leaving צפת by bus,” I told myself that there was no way I could accomplish such a goal. Yet, we all stand now in ראש הנקרא, the mountains just a speck in the distance. Some boundaries are meant to be broken. And we broke them. Together.Enjoy the Pictures- https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a60sx1576o4xllk/AADKrFmvbievwXXNppskakQ5a?dl=0