When I landed in Israel I had no idea what to expect. I was there on a Birthright-Taglit trip through Israel Outdoors, an organization that sends Jewish youth to Israel to study the history of the land and the Jewish people.
I set no expectations for my adventure. I simply wanted to take this leap of faith, take advantage of this truly once in a lifetime experience, and see what the opportunity had to offer.
Simply put, I was floored by my experience. The people, the food, the hikes, our group. Everything and everyone inspired me to push myself, soak in as much as I could, and appreciate this beautiful land.
Our first meal was breakfast at a kibbutz. Tables were laden with platters of vegetables, hummus, labne, baba ganoush, eggs, and Turkish coffee. I couldn’t believe my luck! What flavors! What generosity! I filled my plate up with a sampling of every dish they had to offer. And, I do believe I helped myself to two fragrant cups of Turkish coffee.
Over the next couple of days we spent time in Tiberius, right near the Sea of Galilee. We journeyed to nearby Tzfat, the birthplace of Jewish Mysticism. There I had the most delightful Shawarma, alongside fresh-pressed pomegranate juice (a running theme of the trip).
Next we explored Tel Aviv, truly a global city. We went to the outdoor marketplace piled with bags of spices, fruits, and pastries for sale. Avi, an Israeli chef traveling with our group, directed us towards an unassuming storefront that simply said “Humus.” Inside, we were rewarded with the most creamy, delicious, warm hummus I have ever eaten. I still dream about it.
Later that day we took a stroll in Jaffa, an ancient seaport and artist colony. That is where I took my lovely photo of the sunset over the beach. It was a perfect ending to an amazing day.
Next up in our travels was a Bedouin Tent in the Negev Dessert. We trekked on camels and were greeted with coffee laced with Chicory and served a traditional Bedouin feast.
We sat on the floor on top of padded mats and ate with relish with our hands. We sat around a bonfire, looked at the stars, played music, and shared stories. Then we slept the night with our 40 fellow travelers on the floor of a large tent.
The desert was beautiful. The palm trees at sunrise, the full moon at night. In the morning before we left we breakfasted on freshly-made pita and salads. We said goodbye to our Bedouin friends and journeyed on.
Our last three days were spent in the holy city of Jerusalem. We planted almond trees and ground fresh za’atar to take home from the Neot Kedumim Biblical landscape and reserve. We lunched on sushi and walked the streets.
We visited the Western Wall twice on Shabbat and sang and danced. I left a note in the wall and felt a connection to something larger than myself. I was surprised by my tears.
My experience in Israel is difficult to put into words yet I know it has changed me. I will leave you with a note I posted to Facebook upon returning to New York. I think it sums up my experience as best as I can muster:
“How do I thank everyone for the transformative experience I had in Israel? What can I possibly say? I have met almost 50 of the most beautiful people on this planet. We floated in the Dead Sea, trekked on camels, hiked a Holy Mountain, learned so much and traveled so far. I am grateful to have shared all of those late nights, early mornings, and belly-laughs with each and every one of you. Thank you for helping me to find my inner Jerusalem.”
Kelly Klein is an actress and writer based out of New York. When she isn't taking pictures of her dinner, she enjoys going to yoga, watching movies, and hanging out with her dear friends. Her other stories and photos can be found at Calloways.