Missing Links

JBHS students take a meaningful trip to Israel to connect with real places from their Tanakh learning.

Agroup of 25 JBHS students left for a unique week-long trip to Israel this past November that focused on exploring the Land through the Tanakh. The students were accompanied by JBHS faculty member Rabbi Joseph Mizrachi and Tanakh Department Chair Ms. Talia Harcsztark. This is the first trip of its kind to be offered by YOF.

Although most of the students had already visited Israel, their family trips may not have focused on making the type of Biblical connections that were the goal of this program. “Every day, we visited a different significant spot,” said Rabbi Mizrachi. One student remarked that he felt he “found a new world” outside of Jerusalem.

One of the first stops for the students was to Tel Dan. With their Tanakhs open, they visited the ancient city of Dan and the altar of Yerobam Ben Nebat. Next was the Golan Heights and Har Bental, from which visitors can see Syria. The discussion focused on the Six-Day War and the story of Israeli spy Eli Cohen. At Tel Hazor, they revisited the story of Joshua and saw the remains of this northern Canaanite kingdom. The next day, they hiked Har Tavor, Emek Yizrael and Har HaCarmel, the latter being the place of confrontation between Elijah and the priests of Ba’al.

On the fourth day of the trip, the students visited Har Gilboa, the site of King Saul’s last stand, and took a scenic hike down Har Arbel, where the students experienced an iconic viewpoint of the Sea of Galilee. After they arrived in Jerusalem, they checked into the Inbal Hotel to continue their adventure.

On the remaining days, the students visited Hebron and enjoyed a beautiful lunch at the Gush Etzion Winery as well as a visit to the Gush Etzion Heritage Center. A mitzvah moment happened when the students realized they would not be able to eat the 10 pizzas they had ordered from a pizzeria and decided to donate them to appreciative IDF soldiers.