Jewish Community Partners

I thought going to Israel was just another year of summer activities alongside my camp friends, the only difference being that we were in Israel and not at camp. I never expected I would learn so much about myself and what I enjoyed.

Typically, my camp summers consist of the same activities, rules, and day by day comfortable schedule. However, when I got to Israel, I quickly realized that this summer was going to be completely different. I knew going into the trip I would be put in situations different than in normal summers, but I never expected the outcome of those situations.

A key part of our trip in Israel was spending time outdoors. More specifically we slept under the stars for a total of six nights. The first time we camped was in the Negev. This section of the trip happened three days in and was required by the whole group to participate. At first, I was not thrilled with the idea of only having a tarp to sleep on and having to hike often. My mind was changed however, when I saw how beautiful Israel was and how unique of an experience I was granted.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the nights on the rocks because there was no bedtime, and my friends and I could stay up as late as we wanted. This helped me bond with my previous friends and create new friendships that enhanced the rest of my trip. Additionally, the fact that we hiked all day and could stay up so late meant that you were so tired it was not too hard to fall asleep. After the Negev I realized that I did not actually hate hiking and sleeping outdoors and that turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip.

Later in the trip every camper would be presented with an elective activity that would last three nights. You chose this before the Israel trip started but were allowed to change. Most everyone chose Sea to Sea, which was a similar experience to the Negev, but after experiencing the Negev many people quickly opted out of Sea to Sea.

However, this was not the case for me because I enjoyed the Negev so much. During Sea to Sea, we had a similar structure to the Negev, however Sea to Sea happened in the northern part of Israel and not the desert. During Sea to Sea, I again slept under the stars and hiked all day. I loved Sea to Sea even though it was tough. It was tough because we hiked the entire day and had to cook our own meals during the hikes. This meant our bags were heavier because of the cooking supplies, and our food intake was limited due to a small supply.

This still did not stop Sea to Sea from being one of my top experiences over the summer. Reflecting on this is surprising for me because on paper Sea to Sea would be something I would never dare participate in, let alone enjoy.

The beauty of my Israel trip was I tried something new and came away with a love for something I would not have found without the trip.

I am so thankful to the Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for helping make my NFTY Jacobs Camp Israel summer opportunity possible. I will remember my experience for the rest of my life.

Amalia, daughter of Virginia Palacio and Todd Shapiro, is a rising senior at St. Mary’s Episcopal School. Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund provided her with a Teen Israel Experience grant to offset the costs of her NFTY Jacobs Camp Israel program.

Note: This essay was written before the horrific events of October 7^th.