We all ran excitedly to the Beis straight from breakfast and formed lines to create arches to welcome our new guests- TJJ Ambassadors!! The girls arrived and joined us for a Shiur by Rav Burg, and then became a part of the regularly scheduled chaburahs and classes. We all did activities together, such as volleyball, painting, baking, and choir. After lunch, the TJJA, Mechina, and Shana Bet girls went on a special tram building trip in the woods, while the rest of Michlelet enjoyed afternoon activities or an optional trip and scavenger hunt in the Biblical Zoo. After dinner, we all met up again to hear a shiur by Rav Gav (Rav Gavriel Friedman), and then ran around during night activity- capture the counselor. 

Campers woke up at 4 this morning to brave Mount Masada on a sunrise hike. After davening shacharis with an incredible view, we hiked down the snake path and the bussed to the Dead Sea, where we floated the day away. Meanwhile, other groups were just getting started. With a slightly later wake-up, the rest of Michlelet split up. One group took the cable cars up Masada, enjoyed the views, and then headed to hot springs to cool off. Another group went to Ein Gedi and did the water hike there, and then went to an archaeological dig site. Another group enjoyed late wakeup and then went swimming in Beit Meir’s pool. Lastly, a group went sheep herding in Itamar and explored the city of Shiloh. 

Chaburahs and activities!! We shteiged the morning away and then painted, danced, cooked, and played ball. In the afternoon, we had the option to continue with activities or take a mini tiyul either to an Ethiopian village to learn more about their culture, or to a painting place where we made our own unique creations. After a relaxing and fun afternoon, we had an incredible Shiur by Shira Smiles and ended the day with a Minute to Win it night activity. 

This Sunday was a fast day, so we began with morning programming with Madrichot. We learnt about what happened on this day in history, what we could take away from those events and how we could apply these ideas into our lives practically. After this, Rabbi Goldsmith of Sha’alvim for Women came to speak about teshuva and the real purpose of a fast day. Afterwards, we had the afternoon off, with an optional trip to the Kotel to enhance the meaning of the day. We ended with a kumzitz right before break fast, which helped us break our fasts with the lessons of the day still on our minds. 

We spent the morning learning Torah, and then the afternoon doing chessed. We split up , and went to a program by One Family Fund, a school for underprivileged children, a school for children with special needs, and a nursing home. Together, we made carnivals, played games, and brought smiles to many faces, old and young. We ended the day with a Halacha Shiur and a Zumba night activity! 

We began the day with our usual incredible Chaburahs and classes, and offered activities such as calligraphy, cooking, volleyball, and art! Then, the excitement began to build as we all changed into our Michlelet shirts in preparation for Yom NCSY. We arrived and met up with all of our friends, enjoyed a delicious BBQ, and danced the night away with an awesome concert by Ohad and Simcha Leiner. We had the chance to meet and bond with Jewish girls from all different backgrounds and programs, and had an unforgettable night. 

At 4 a.m., many of us chose to go on the optional sunrise hike, and enjoyed watching the beautiful views by Kfar Haruv as we davened vasikin and learnt about where we were. After meeting back up with the group at the hotel, we all enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast and then went down to the beach. We did water sports all day, with pancakes, banana boating, boating and swimming. After a quick pizza picnic in the park, we began the long journey back to Beit Shemesh from Tevaria (with some bathroom stops of course!) and made a pit stop in the woods for a BBQ dinner. 

We woke up extra early in the morning and boarded the busses. Half of us went to Hashomer Hachadash where we picked and pruned trees and became one with the land. The other half of us headed off to explore the Majrasa water hike, where we cooled off from the hot day. Afterwards, we all met up to go rappelling down mountains and jeeping near Safed. After a deli sandwich dinner stop, we settled down at the hotel where we prepped for another big day. 

Sunday was our first real day on Michlelet, and we loved every minute of it. We were introduced and began learning with our chaburah and teachers for the first time, and then had the option to choose between many activities including tennis, art, Zumba, baking and karaoke. In the afternoon, we headed off onto food packaging chessed trips. We enjoyed a Shiur by Rav Moshe Tzvi Weinberger as our first official night speaker, and ended the night with a super fun Apples to Apples: human edition game night. 

After an uplifting shabbos where campers and Madrichot got to know each other better and experienced the beauty of a shabbos in Israel, we had a late night pizza party chagiga. Everyone came in their best shtick and danced the night away, while enjoying the delicious, fresh pizza.