Last Wednesday we went to the airport on Chanukah to greet a Nefesh b’ Nefesh flight!! In the spirit of these amazing individuals and families making aliyah we all dressed up in blue and white, made posters, and danced as they made their way into Israel as citizens for the first time. Being there while they experienced this huge transition in their lives was an amazing moment for us as well. Watching their smiles as they walked with all their luggage will be an image we will always remember and cherish.

We had such an amazing Shabbos in Tzfat!! We left the building Friday morning at 7:45 and arrived in Tzfat at 11. Baruch Hashem we had amazing weather on Friday enabling us to enjoy walking through the streets of the city. We had the option of going on a tour around Tzfat or just walking around the town by ourselves. Girls bought jewelry, saw amazing art murals, or got awesome food! Around 2pm everybody got back to the hotel, Hotel Ron, and proceeded to get ready for Shabbos. Rav Lerner, Dena, Aliza and their families and Alex Claire and his wife joined us for shabbos as well. After everyone finished taking pre Shabbos pictures, we all sat around and Alex Claire sang a couple of songs for us. Then we all made our way out of the hotel to head to Shul. We had so many options of what kind of minyan to choose from. There were 2 Carlebach Minyanim, a Young Israel Minyan, and a Breslov Minyan. They were all beautiful!! After shul we went back to the hotel for a delicious dinner.  When dinner was over, we had an amazing speaker who told us about her life in Tzfat and how she always finds time to talk to God. To end the night off right, we had a tish along with Shana Bet and enjoyed some great singing and yummy food.

Shabbos morning we woke up bright and early and made our way to shul despite the rain. Hallel at the Carlebach minyan was beyond beautiful! After another delicious lunch we had the options of checking out the caves. They were so cool!!! Then after a fun and chilled menucha, we had another fantastic speaker, Chaya Ben Baruch, who told us her unbelievable life story and inspired us all. We then had shalashudis and ended off shabbos with beautiful singing and a wonderful Havdala led by Alex Claire. We made our way to the busses soon after shabbos was over but made a quick visit to Rav Shimon Bar Yochai's Kever. To end off the amazing shabbaton, we had delicious pizza waiting for us when we arrived at school. Can't wait for more phenomenal shabbatons!!

This past Monday there was an optional tour of Nachlaot given by Benji (Binyamin) Levine. Dena Terebelo, our amazing Eim Bayit joined the girls and shared with us the experience……”Benji Levine is the grandson of Reb Aryeh Levine who was known as "The Tzaddik of Yerushalayim" and who lived in Nachlaot. Benji spent summers with his grandfather and therefore was able to describe vividly how life looked back then. He shared stories of his grandfather, and was able to show us the places where many of these stories actually took place!! It was a very special experience that connected us with such a rich history of when Israel was just a nascent state.”

Kate Eidman and Alana Eisner, Shana Alef