Jewish Community Partners

By Hodaya Harary

Hodaya Harary, daughter of Dr. Mendy Harary and Shira Isenberg, is a junior at the Goldie Margolin High School for Girls. Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund provided her with a Teen Israel Experience grant to offset the costs of her NCSY Next Step Israel Internship program. All rising juniors and seniors are eligible for grants of up to $3,000 to attend a recognized teen summer or semester program in Israel. Teen Israel Experience applications for Summer 2026 are open and can be accessed at jcpmemphis.org/lemsky-endowment-fund.

This past summer, I had the incredible privilege to attend NCSY’s Next Step Israel Internship program – an opportunity of a lifetime. Next Step, which blends classic touring with an authentic internship experience, empowered and inspired me in so many ways. Throughout my trip, I was able to enhance my professional skills, connect with a diverse group of Jewish teens from New Jersey to Panama, and see the land of Israel from a whole new perspective.

This wasn’t my first trip to Israel, but in many ways, it was a brand-new experience. In the past, I’d always traveled with family; this summer, I came to Israel barely knowing anybody.

Additionally, I had never really toured Israel in depth before. With Next Step, I got to trek the expanse of the entire country, starting in the North and making our way down to Central and then the South. Each place we stopped revealed a glimpse of what life was like for the people living there. We swam in the Kinneret and Sea of Galilee, we plucked potatoes along the Salad Trail, and we retraced the steps of Jewish soldiers in King Hezekiah’s tunnels. Visiting the Kotel and Maarat Hamachpela (Cave of the Patriarchs) was particularly poignant — it was hard to believe I was standing in the same historic and holy places where our forefathers once stood.

The most impactful experience for me was hiking the Snake Path at Masada. This wasn’t your typical hike. We had to wake up before dawn to beat the treacherous midday heat. After arriving at the foot of the mountain, we began our hike in blackness. It was one of the most physically and mentally demanding challenges in my life. The steep climb featured hundreds of rocky stairs, as the sun beat fiercely overhead — even in the early morning. The higher the elevation, the more difficult the trail became. Yet my friends and I soldiered on, encouraging each other as we took step after step — and enjoyed the reward of a stunning sunrise unfolding before our eyes. After an hour of hiking, we made it! We had reached the top of the trail. There, a tour guide led us through the ruins of King Herod’s fortress, detailing the fierce battles that occurred there against the Roman Empire. It was mind-blowing to hear the stories and see the remains of events that transpired centuries ago.

I don’t think I realized the impact the experience had on me until long after we were back at the bottom. Hiking Masada showed me that when we encounter challenges, it’s easy to give up — but we can lean on each other to make it to the top. Continuing to push forward, taking yet another step, even in rough conditions, is really, really hard — but really, really worthwhile, if we can stick with it. With each shaking step I took up the mountain, I pushed myself to the limits. And when I finally got to the top, I don’t know what I enjoyed more: the most exquisite sunrise, or the delicious feeling of accomplishment.

I am so thankful to Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund for the Teen Israel Experience grant, which allowed me to go on a trip I’ll never forget. From interning at an Israeli startup and touring so many historic and meaningful sites to spending time with my advisors and friends, Next Step helped me connect with the land of Israel, my Judaism, and myself. None of this would have been possible without this incredible grant, and for that, I’m so grateful.