Yvonne Orfali
How realistic does it sound to wake up one HUNDRED AND TWO high school seniors at 4:00 a.m.? Take it one step further and imagine them seated on the bus by 4:30 a.m., waiting for their excursion to the Kotel.
That scene greeted Rabbi David Elnadav, Dean of Students at Magen David Yeshivah High School, on May 26, 2025. “At 4:40 a.m. I exited the hotel and boarded the bus not knowing what to expect,” said Rabbi Elnadav, senior trip organizer and spiritual leader. “I was so proud to see a large amount of our senior grade ready and waiting to pray Netz (sunrise prayer) at the Kotel.” The day was extra special as it was Yom Yerushalayim. The seniors joined hundreds of fellow Jews there and left feeling uplifted as they continued their jam-packed day.
“We’re proudly connected to Medinat Yisrael (the State of Israel),” said Rabbi Elnadav in regard to MDYHS’ new initiative to host the senior trip in Israel, as opposed to Orlando or prior destinations. “It’s much more impactful marching down that graduation aisle after a trip to Israel.”
Last year, fifty-seven MDYHS seniors traveled first to Poland for four days and then met their remaining forty-five peers in Israel for an incredible six days. “Whether you started your journey in Poland or not, you will feel this trip is memorable,” said Rabbi Elnadav. Poland is focused on Holocaust remembrance, and the Israel trip thereafter displays the rebirth and growth of our Jewish nation. Carefully designed to be different from a bar mitsvah trip, students had the opportunity to experience a robust itinerary, from mimicking “Chopped” on a kibbutz, to bringing supplies to soldiers, packing sandwiches in Katamon for needy families, and even praying with Hacham David Yosef, Chief Rabbi of Israel. How fortunate the students felt to embark on this trip side by side with their peers.
“We are connecting to our roots and who we are all about,” said Rabbi Elnadav. “That is Am Yisrael (the Jewish people) in Erets Yisrael (the Land of Israel).” There is a time to pray, a time to learn, and a time to dance. Whether the seniors were praying in the cave at the famous pilgrimage site of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai, bearing witness to the atrocities of October 7 and visiting the memorial plaza in S’derot, or whitewater rafting in Kfar Bloom, they received a well-rounded exploration of our country alongside their classmates, developing a unique sense of camaraderie. Perhaps even more significant was a vital connection to their Jewish identity and nation.
Envision the emotion of singing with our hayalim (soldiers) in the IDF on Yom Yerushalayim. That special evening was preceded by visiting Ma’arat HaMachpela, where students had the privilege of reciting personal prayers and feeling the kedushat makom (sanctity of the place). These were two impactful highlights in a day filled with even more activities that will no doubt leave lasting impressions on MDYHS students. Rabbi Elnadav sent daily emails to parents outlining what transpired throughout the day. Parents eagerly awaited updates and were fortunate to be “in the loop” for the duration of the trip.
“Chaperoning our seniors in Israel wasn’t just a trip,” said Ms. Michelle Antar, MDYHS administrative assistant. “It was a return to our roots, a breath of fresh air, and a reminder of who we are and where we belong.” And that is exactly the message Magen David wants its graduates to leave with. “This trip might sound like the culmination of a twelve-year-long journey at MDY, but it’s actually their imprint on their forever connection and bond to our yeshivah, their friendships, teachers, rabbis, and Magen David legacy,” said MDY President Gladys Haddad. “In essence, we’ve only just begun!”
One might think high schoolers would be overwhelmed with such an intense itinerary, having an early start to the day and hopping from place to place across the country well into the evening. Instead, the MDYHS seniors were prone to adding more hesed (acts of kindness) opportunities and squeezing in supermarket runs for our fellow soldiers to show hakarat hatov (gratitude). “I run a tight ship,” said Rabbi Elnadav. “But when we go to Israel, these kids just want more.”
Yvonne Orfali is a member of the board as well as a parent of MDYHS.
