MRS. LAURA MILLER
THE SENIOR STUDENTS OF MAGEN DAVID YESHIVAH HIGH SCHOOL WERE GIVEN A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR TO TAKE PART IN A UNIQUE SENIOR TRIP TO ISRAEL.
What made this trip so unique was that students had the privilege of delivering a Sefer Torah, which was donated by Jeff and Rachel Sutton in memory of Mr. Joseph Sutton A”H, to the Mishkan Shlomo Beit Kinneset in the Har Gilo Army Base. This was made possible with the help of Mr. Ezra Hanon and tons of student fundraising efforts.
Mrs. Laura Miller, Director of Guidance at MDYHS and chaperone on this incredible trip, recalled, “Two days after our high school graduation, Head of School, Dr. Daniel J. Vitow, emailed the students in the Class of 2023 the following message: ‘Last Shabbat in Yerushalayim. This Shabbat as graduates. Not bad! Love you all.’ With this sentiment in mind, let us reflect on the transformative trip-of-a-lifetime our seniors (now our graduates!) had in Eretz Yisrael.”
The boys and girls arrived on different planes and stayed in different hotels, but our entire grade was united as one while in Israel. Day one of this incredible journey to Israel began at Latrun, the Armored Corps Memorial Site which is steeped deeply in Israel’s military history. After touring Latrun, our students heard from Shir Peled, the IDF’s first-ever female undercover fighter in their counter-terrorism unit. A highlight of our first day in Israel was our “Team Fauda” experience, where our students engaged in various team-building experiences that simulated a day in the life of the Special Forces Unit of the IDF, including undercover agent training, target shooting practice and even Krav Maga.
Our second day was jam-packed with history, adventure, a sunset cruise, and the magic of Israel. The seniors had learned about Israel’s greatest spy, Eli Cohen, before their trip, and retraced his very same footsteps by taking ATV rides along the Syrian border. They were also privileged to attend a briefing about the Northern Border at the Mt. Bental-Alma Research & Education Center. However, the highlight of the day was a beautiful dinner at Deck’s Restaurant in Tiveria, followed by an amazing boat ride on the Kinneret, where our boys and girls each took part in a festive chagigah while at sea. Our next day was just as exhilarating! From security briefings to a meaningful visit to Kibbutz Alumim, our students were not just visiting Israel, but truly experiencing Israel. By far, the most fascinating part of the third day in Israel was a visit to a Hamas terror training tunnel, where our students crawled underground to see first-hand a subterranean southern Gaza terror passage that — thankfully — an elite IDF unit uncovered.
Our fourth day was beyond special; our students went to Hadera and spent the day at the Dani Hi training center, where they engaged in IDF simulated training, including tactical and shooting range training, Krav Maga, and a lecture from Brigadier General Gal Hirsh. At Dani Hi, a special and unforgettable visit from Nadia Cohen, the widow of Mossad agent Eli Cohen, took place, where her story and message to our students was beyond powerful.
Erev Shabbat our seniors got to experience downtown Yerushalayim, from shopping at the Machane Yehudah Market to the Mamilla Mall. The week culminated with our entire grade welcoming Shabbat at the Kotel, followed by a walk to Yeshivat Ahavat Shalom, where we were reunited with our Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Eli Mansour for a special Shabbat dinner at the Yeshivah.
Shabbat morning our students returned to the Yeshivah to daven Shacharit, and then we had the distinct pleasure of meeting Holocaust Survivor Rena Quint in person, Shabbat afternoon. After a Zoom program the month before, it was a true honor to hear Mrs. Quint’s amazing and powerful story of survival. Every student was gifted her book, “A Daughter of Many Mothers: Her Horrific Childhood and Wonderful Life,” signed by Mrs. Quint and personally addressed to each student. A handful of students wanted to spend Shabbat afternoon with Mrs. Quint in her home, and took her up on her generous offer to continue to spend time with them. Motzei Shabbat our students played Laser Tag on the roof of Cinema City in Jerusalem, followed by pizza (even corn pizza).
Our second to last day was a day of hesed, where we had an unforgettable visit to Bet Elazrachi Orphanage, a home for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. What took place there was downright magical; our students truly connected with the children, and when it was time to go, many students kept hopping off the bus to give “their kids” more hugs. While the energy of the trip to the orphanage was beyond powerful, the highlight of our week in Israel was traveling to Mishkan Shlomo Beit Kneset in Har Gilo for the Hachnasat Sefer Torah dedication in memory of Mr. Joe Sutton A”H, at the IDF army base. Our students danced and rejoiced at this momentous event, a day that they will, no doubt, remember for years to come.
The palpable spiritual energy of this trip cannot be ignored. Each morning, a group of students chose to daven Netz at the Kotel before dawn. An unforgettable visit to Kever Rachel was another highlight, where our students had the unique opportunity to pray at this holy site.
The last day of this incredible journey included a visit from Uzi Shaya, a former Mossad agent, who discussed his role as a recruiter into the Mossad. Students had a taste of recruitment strategies, and simulated exercises that actual Mossad agents utilize in their daily lives. With just hours until our scheduled departure out of Ben Gurion Airport, our students had the afternoon to enjoy a leisurely day in Jerusalem, savoring the sights, sounds and energy of this holy city.
We boarded our El Al flights back home, forever changed from this incredible trip with memories to last a lifetime. As Dr. Vitow noted, “This was not just a regular trip. This was a growth experience for all of our students, a maturation experience, an experience of hesed, and of middot and of character, and all the things that we want for our children, that we wish for our children, that we work so hard to give our children, and we hope that we are successful at the end of the day. And I think that, judging from what I’m seeing, we have been enormously successful on this trip with our ultimate goal of changing lives.
Mrs. Laura Miller is Director of College Guidance at MDYHS.
